In Europe, A. j. japonicus has been detected in Switzerland, Belgium, Slovenia, and Germany, where it has become a resident species. Here, we describe the recent spread and genetic structure of A. j. japonicus populations in Germany. By monitoring the species in Baden-Wurttemberg in 2011 and 2012, we

observed a considerable enlargement of the infested area from 54 municipalities in 2011 to 124 municipalities in 2012. To elucidate the colonization of Europe by A. j. japonicus, seven microsatellite loci were studied in 106 individuals sampled in Germany and Switzerland in 2012. The same markers were genotyped in 31 North American and 26 Japanese specimens. Population genetic analyses indicated that A. j. japonicus in Baden-Wurttemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia represented two genetically distinct populations with FST-values of 0.073-0.152, suggesting that they originated from two independent introduction events in the past. These CCI-779 research buy results are of particular interest in light

of vectorial variability for the transmission of viruses and other pathogens in Europe.”
“We report the sequence of the Halobacterium salinarum strain R1 chromosome and its four megaplasmids. Our set of protein-coding genes is supported by extensive proteomic and sequence homology data. The structures of the plasmids, which show three large-scale duplications (adding up to 100 kb), were unequivocally confirmed by cosmid analysis. The chromosome of strain R1 is completely colinear and virtually identical to that of strain NRC-1. Correlation of the plasmid sequences revealed SN-38 2 10 kb of sequence that occurs only in strain R1. The remaining 350 kb shows virtual sequence identity in the two strains. Nevertheless, the number and overall structure of the plasmids are largely incompatible. Also,

20% of the protein sequences differ despite the near identity at the DNA sequence this website level. Finally, we report genome-wide mobility data for insertion sequences from which we conclude that 4 strains R1 and NRC-1 originate from the same natural isolate. This exemplifies evolution in the laboratory. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The aim of this study was to characterize the physicochemical properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes functionalized with osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) and its C-terminal pentapeptide OGP[10-14], and to evaluate in vitro osteoinductive potential in early osteogenesis, besides, to evaluate cytotoxic, genotoxic and/or mutagenic effects. Peptide incorporation into the BC membranes did not change the morphology of BC nanofibers and BC crystallinity pattern. The characterization was complemented by Raman scattering, swelling ratio and mechanical tests. In vitro assays demonstrated no cytotoxic, genotoxic or mutagenic effects for any of the studied BC membranes. Culture with osteogenic cells revealed no difference in cell morphology among all the membranes tested.

\n\nResults and conclusion: Significant differences in genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies of PRNP 1368 polymorphism were not observed between AD and normal controls. There were no significant differences

in the genotype and allele frequencies of the PRNP 1368 polymorphism between Korean VaD patients PLX4032 mouse and normal controls. However, in the haplotype analysis, haplotype Ht5 was significantly over-represented in Korean VaD patients. This was the first genetic association study of a polymorphism outside the coding region of PRNP in relation to AD and VaD.”
“Manganese superoxide dismutase (leMnSOD) cDNA was cloned from the Antarctic bivalve Laternula elliptica. The full-length cDNA of leMnSOD is 1238 bp in length and contains an open reading frame of 681 bp encoding 226 amino acid residues including a putative mitochondrial

targeting peptide of 26 amino acids in the N-terminal region. The calculated molecular mass is 24.8 kDa with an estimated isoelectric point of 6.75. leMnSOD signatures from 185 to 192 (DVWEHAYY) and four conserved amino acids (H52, H11, D185, and H192) responsible for binding manganese were observed. Sequence comparison showed that leMnSOD had high levels of 4 identity with MnSOD from Haliotis discus discus, Mizuhopecten yessoensis, and Crassostrea gigas (68%, 66%, and 59%, respectively). RT-PCR analysis revealed the presence of leMnSOD transcripts in all tissues examined. Quantitative real-time check details RT-PCR assay indicated that treatment with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) significantly increased leMnSOD mRNA expression in an organ-, time-, and dose-dependent manner. The mRNA expression with exposure to PCBs at 0.1

and 10 ppb reached the highest level at 6 h and then recovered slightly from 6 to 48 h in the gill. In contrast, the expression of leMnSOD mRNA showed a selleck products different expression pattern related to PCB concentration in the digestive gland. The mRNA expression at 0.1 ppb PCBs increased up to 12 h and then decreased by 48 h, but increased immediately at 10 ppb PCBs. The leMnSOD was overproduced in Escherichia coli and purified. The recombinant leMnSOD showed maximum activity at pH 9.0, and it retained more than 50% of its original activity after incubation for 30 min at 40 degrees C. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“This study was performed to test whether children born small for gestational age (SGA) with catch-up growth (CUG) could be associated with the early development of insulin resistance and the beta-cell dysfunction and to explore the impacts of height CUG and weight CUG on the insulin resistance in a Chinese population.

We show that whereas the standard modeling assumption of a smooth cell surface predicts only moderate localized effects, the more realistic “wrinkled” surface topology predicts that Ca2+ concentrations up to 80 mu M can persist within the folds of membranes for significant times. This intra-wrinkle location may account for 5% of the total cell volume. Using different geometries of wrinkles, our simulations show

check details that high Ca2+ microdomains will be generated most effectively by long narrow membrane wrinkles of similar dimensions to those found experimentally. This is a new concept which has not previously been considered, but which has ramifications as the intra-wrinkle location is also a strategic location at which Ca2+ acts as a regulator of the cortical cytoskeleton and plasma membrane expansion. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: The aim was to correlate the color Doppler flow activity pre- and postradiotherapy, using transrectal color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) and the 2 year positive biopsy rate after radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer. Methods and materials: Analysis was carried out in 69 out of 160 patients who had undergone treatment with

3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) to prostate and seminal vesicles. Patients were randomized to receive 80 Gy in 40 fractions in 8 weeks (arm A) and 62 Gy in 20 fractions in 5 weeks, 4 fractions LY2835219 per week (arm B). Color Doppler flow activity (CDFA) was evaluated calculating the vascularization index (VI), defined as the ratio

between the colored and total pixels in the whole and peripheral prostate, delineated by a radiation oncologist on CDUS images, using EcoVasc a home-made software. The difference between the 2 year post- and pre-3D-CRT maximum VI (VI(max)), named Delta VI(max), was calculated in the whole and peripheral prostate for each 432 patient. Then, Delta VI(max) and the detected 2 year biopsy outcome were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) technique. Results: The VI(max) increased or decreased in patients with positive or negative biopsies, respectively, compared to the value before RT in both arms. The area under the ROC curve for Delta VI(max) in the whole and peripheral prostate is equal to 0.790 and 0.884, respectively. Conclusion: The Delta VI(max) index, comparing CDFA at 2 years learn more compared to that before RT, allows the 2 year postradiotherapy positive biopsy rate to be predicted. (C) 2008 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. [DOI:10.1118/1.2990778]“
“Because of their sessile lifestyle, plants are continuously exposed to solar UV-B radiation. Inhibition of leaf growth is one of the most consistent responses of plants upon exposure to UV-B radiation. In this work, we investigated the role of GROWTH-REGULATING FACTORs (GRFs) and of microRNA miR396 in UV-B-mediated inhibition of leaf growth in Arabidopsis thaliana plants.

“
“Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Metastases usually occur in regional lymph nodes or to lungs. Distant metastases to skeletal muscle are rare. Here, we report a patient with a solitary metastasis to skeletal muscle.\n\nPatient Findings: A 31-year- old woman was found on routine physical examination to have a 1-cm nodule in the right thyroid lobe. The patient underwent endoscopic total thyroidectomy with central cervical lymph node dissection in April

2008. Pathological analysis showed a 1.5×0.9 cm PTC in the right thyroid lobe with extension into perithyroidal soft tissue and lymph node involvement (all six central lymph nodes examined were #4 randurls[1|1|,|CHEM1|]# positive). P005091 After surgery, she received 100 mCi of radioactive iodine. Subsequently, the patient was found to have a lateral neck recurrence and, therefore, underwent right unilateral modified radical neck dissection followed by additional radioactive iodine ablation. In February 2010, her serum thyroglobulin was 19.4 ng/mL, but the neck ultrasound was negative. However, a fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography scan showed focal FDG uptake in the vastus medialis muscle of the right distal femur. A 0.9×0.5 cm,

well-defined, whitish mass in the vastus medialis muscle was confirmed on histopathology to be metastatic PTC.\n\nSummary: Here, we report an adult woman who presented with a thyroid nodule that was noted to be PTC on histopathology after total thyroidectomy. Almost 2 years later, she was noted to have had focal FDG uptake consistent in the region of the right femur. A solitary metastasis of PTC in the right vastus

medialis muscle was resected. A MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online) search showed that this is see more only the third report of PTC with a distant, solitary skeletal muscle metastasis.\n\nConclusions: Distant skeletal metastasis in PTC is very rare. Until the availability of FDG to detect skeletal metastasis of PTC, they may have been more difficult to discern.”
“Papillomaviruses represent a medically important virus family, Infection with a high-risk human papillomavirus type is a prerequisite for cervical carcinoma development. Infection by low-risk types may result in the generation of benign skin warts, It was recently found that infectious entry of these viruses is dependent upon a specific proteolytic event that occurs prior to viral endocytosis. Specifically, a proprotein convertase, furin or proprotein convertase 5/6, must cleave the minor capsid protein for infection to proceed. Here, an overview of what is currently known about this process is presented, and what we have learned about the papillomavirus lifecycle from these studies discussed. This work also has implications for further advances in papillomavirus vaccine development.

The intrinsic 432 biorecognition potential of nucleic acids combined with advanced properties of the locked AZD8186 in vitro nucleic acids (LNAs) provide opportunities to develop new nanomaterials and devices like sensors, aptamers, and machines. In this Account, we describe recent research on preparation and investigation of the properties of LNA/DNA hybrids containing functionalized 2′-amino-LNA nucleotides. By application of different chemical reactions, modification of 2′-amino-LNA scaffolds can be efficiently performed in high yields and with various tags, postsynthetically or during the automated

oligonucleotide synthesis. The choice of a synthetic method for scaffolding along 2′-amino-LNA mainly depends on the chemical nature of the modification,

its price, its availability, and applications of the product. One of the most useful applications of the product LNA/DNA scaffolds containing 2′-amino-LNA is to detect complementary DNA and RNA targets. Examples of these applications include sensing of clinically important single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and imaging of nucleic acids in vitro, in cell culture, and in vivo. According to our studies, 2′-amino-LNA scaffolds are efficient within diagnostic probes for DNA and RNA targets and as therapeutics, whereas both 2′-amino- and isomeric 2′-alpha-L-amino-LNA scaffolds have promising properties for stabilization and detection of DNA nanostructures.

ALK mutation Attachment of fluorescent groups to the 2′-amino group results in very high fluorescent quantum yields of the duplexes and remarkable sensitivity of the fluorescence signal to target binding. Notably, fluorescent LNA/DNA probes bind nucleic acid targets with advantages of high affinity and specificity. Thus, molecular motion of nanodevices and programmable self-assembly of chemically modified LNA/DNA nanomaterials can be followed by bright fluorescence signaling from BVD-523 the functionalized LNA units. Another appealing aspect of the amino-LNA scaffolds is specific targeting of nucleic acids and proteins for therapeutic applications. 2′-Amino-LNA/DNA conjugates containing peptide and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) groups are promising in this context as well as for advanced imaging and diagnostic purposes in vivo. For imaging applications, photostability of fluorescence dyes is of crucial importance. Chemically stable and photostable fluorescent PAH molecules attached to 2′-amino functionality of the 2′-amino-LNA are potent for in vitro and in vivo imaging of DNA and RNA targets. We believe that rational evolution of the biopolymers of Nature may solve the major challenges of the future material science and biomedicine. However, this requires strong scientific progress and efficient interdisciplinary research.

We present a patient with NXG showing exceptional histopathologic features. NXG in our patient presents with exclusively dermal granulomatous inflammation mimicking interstitial granuloma annulare. Not only subcutaneous involvement, but also, evident zones of degenerated collagen, foam cells, and DZNeP order cholesterol clefts were missing. Moreover, the case shows overlaps with recently published granulomatous scleromyxedema. Some common clinical and histopathologic features of NXG and scleromyxedema might be based on shared

underlying paraproteinemia.”
“Objective: To determine whether erector spinae muscle oxygenation (OXY) and blood volume during a progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation (PILE) are modified by an exercise therapy program.\n\nDesign: Pre- (t1) and post- (t2) exercise therapy experimental design.\n\nSetting: Hospital.\n\nParticipants:

Subjects with chronic low back pain (LBP group) (n=24) and healthy subjects (control group) (n=24) were evaluated.\n\nIntervention: Exercise program.\n\nMain Outcome Measures: The control group was evaluated once, and the LBP group was evaluated before (t1) the exercise therapy program and 28 days thereafter (t2). The maximal load lifted, total work, and total power were determined using the PILE test. Continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure OXY buy GW786034 and blood volume during the PILE test.\n\nResults: The maximal load lifted, total power, and total work were significantly lower in the LBP group (-42%+/- 5%, -46%+/- 6%, and -67%+/-

6% at t1, respectively; P<.05) than the control group. In the LBP subjects, these parameters improved significantly after the exercise therapy program (+20%+/- 3%, +56%+/- 14%, and +61%+/- 5%; P<.05). At each submaximal power (ie, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of maximal load lifted at t1), OXY and blood volume were significantly higher at t2 than t1. One-half recovery time for OXY was significantly SNX-5422 ic50 higher in the LBP group (at t1 and t2) than in control subjects.\n\nConclusions: The findings in this study suggest that LBP subjects present an impairment in their capacity to deliver oxygen at the level of the erector spinae muscle, which can be partly restored by an exercise therapy program. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2013;94:536-42 (C) 2013 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine”
“Objectives. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the addition of glass fillers with different sizes and degrees of silanization percentages to remineralizing composite materials based on amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). Methods. Four different materials were tested in this study. Three ACP based materials: 0-ACP (40 wt% ACP, 60 wt% resin), Ba-ACP (40 wt% ACP, 50 wt% resin, 10 wt% barium-glass) and Sr-ACP (40 wt% ACP, 50 wt% resin, 10 wt% strontium-glass) were compared to the control material, resin modified glass ionomer (Fuji II LC capsule, GC, Japan).

The conclusion is that midluteal serum progesterone measurement does not predict the outcome of a subsequent pregnancy in women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage. RBMOnline (C) 2012, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: To present a patient with a primary inferior vena cava aneurysm who was subjected to endovascular treatment.\n\nCase Report: A 60-year-old man, suffering from pulmonary embolism, was diagnosed with a vena cava aneurysm located below the renal veins. Through the right common femoral vein, a custom-made stent-graft was implanted. Proximal and distal barbs were incorporated

in the frame to assist fixation and avoid caudal or cephalad migration. The procedure was performed without any technical or clinical complications, and the aneurysm was completely excluded from the circulation. During the 6-month follow-up, PCI-32765 inhibitor imaging verified the correct position of the stent-graft and exclusion of the aneurysm without endoleak or any other complication\n\nConclusion: In patients with inferior vena cava aneurysm, stent-graft implantation may be an alternative

to open surgery.”
“Deep (greater than 25 m) and anomalously warm surface mixed layer (SML) has been evident in the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean since 2007. This warm SML contributes to the formation of maximum near surface temperature, S63845 which act as the sea-ice formation “inhibitor”, after freeze-up season. In this study, we click here attempt to estimate the ocean heat content (OHC) in the SML of the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean. The surface mixed layer depth (SMLD) and OHC from 2007 to 2010 were estimated from SST measured by the microwave radiometer AMSR-E and NCEP-derived net heat budget, based on the assumption that changes of heat content within SML can be explained by the air-sea heat exchange only.\n\nEstimated SMLD and OHC were well comparable with the in-situ CTD measurements, especially, in the western Canada Basin. SMLD

greater than 25 m (up to 40 m) and OHC greater than 300 MJ were estimated at southern Northwind Ridge area (73-75 degrees N, 168-150 degrees W), where the catastrophic reduction of sea ice has been reported, while less OHC was estimated at the eastern side of the Canada Basin. Although anomalous high SST has uniformly been captured over the northern Chukchi Sea and the Northwind Ridge area since 2007, our results indicate the nonuniformity of surface OHC distribution in the Canada Basin with relatively large amount in the Northwind Ridge area. Conversely, we can assume that the Northwind Ridge area is the plausible candidate for the Near Surface Temperature Maximum formation area. Recent thin ice condition is probably responsible for deepening SMLD, efficient ocean heat uptake, and delayed onset of sea ice formation in the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean.

glauca Kononenko & Ronkay, 2001, S. viridescens Kononenko & Ronkay, 2001 and S. lanceola Ronaky, 2001, previously known from North Vietnam and North India are reported from China for the first time. The male genitalia of S. basiviridis Draudt, 1950 and the female genitalia of S. lichenosella Kononenko & Ronkay, 2001 are described and illustrated for the first time. The generic name Lepidopyrga Warren, 1914 is synonymized (syn. n.) with Stenoloba. The taxon S. glauca kuytekparki Sohn find more & Han, 2005 is synonymized (syn. n.) with S. glauca. Most species are illustrated with imagines, male and female genitalia. A checklist of Stenoloba

species in China is presented.”
“Introduction: Nosocomial infections have long been neglected in Sub-Saharan Africa, and hand hygiene (HH) is usually neglected in hospital settings. This study aimed to provide baseline data on HH compliance among health workers and HH resources

in a large West African teaching hospital.\n\nMethodology: A cross-sectional, unobtrusive observational study assessed personal and care-related HH compliance among doctors and nurses and HH resources in 15 service provision centres of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Ghana, in 2011. Data was collected with an infection prevention checklist and health worker HH compliance form, based on World Health Organization guidelines.\n\nResults: Care-related HH compliance of doctors and nurses was low and basic HH resources were deficient in all 15 service centres. Care-related HH compliance among doctors ranged from 9.2% to 57% and 9.6% ABT-263 cost to 54% among nurses. HH compliance was higher when risk was perceived to be higher (i.e., in the emergency and wound dressing/treatment rooms and labour wards). The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) showed the highest level of compliance among health workers. Facilities for HH, particularly alcohol hand rub and liquid soap dispensers were shown to be deficient.\n\nConclusion: Care-related HH compliance among doctors and nurses in this large West African hospital is low; however, the NICU, which had implemented HH Selleckchem P5091 interventions, had better HH compliance. HH

intervention programs should be designed and promoted in all service centres. Also, the introduction of alcohol-based hand rubs as an accessible and effective HH alternative in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is recommended.”
“The Renal and Lung Living Donors Evaluation Study assesses outcomes of live lung (lobectomy) donors. This is a retrospective cohort study at University of Southern California (USC) and Washington University (WASHU) Medical Centers (1993-2006), using medical records to assess morbidity and national databases to ascertain postdonation survival and lung transplantation. Serious complications were defined as those that required significant treatment, were potentially life-threatening or led to prolonged hospitalization.

“
“In the title compound, [Zn-2(C10H2O8)(C16H20N4)(H2O)(2)] (n) , the ZnII atom is in a distorted tetrahedral environment, being coordinated by one N atom from a 1,4-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)piperazine (3-bpmp) ligand, two O

atoms from two carboxylate groups of the pyromellitate anion and one water molecule. The distortion of the tetrahedral coordination may be ascribed to the hydrogen bonds between the carboxylate groups and the adjacent water molecules. Each ZnII atom links to three organic ligands and each pyromellitate ligand coordinates to four ZnII atoms, forming a (3,4)-connected infinite three-dimensional framework. O-H…N interactions also occur.”
“Background: SpectraClassifier (SC) is a Java solution for designing and implementing Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)-based classifiers. The main goal of SC is to allow users with SRT2104 datasheet minimum background knowledge of multivariate statistics to perform a fully automated pattern recognition analysis. SC incorporates feature selection (greedy stepwise approach, either forward or backward), and feature extraction (PCA). Fisher selleck Linear Discriminant Analysis is the method of choice for classification.

Classifier evaluation is performed through various methods: display of the confusion matrix of the training and testing datasets; K-fold cross-validation, leave-one-out and bootstrapping as well as Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves.\n\nResults: SC is composed of the following modules: Classifier design, Data

exploration, Data visualisation, Classifier evaluation, Reports, and Classifier history. It is able to read low resolution selleck chemical in-vivo MRS (single-voxel and multi-voxel) and high resolution tissue MRS (HRMAS), processed with existing tools (jMRUI, INTERPRET, 3DiCSI or TopSpin). In addition, to facilitate exchanging data between applications, a standard format capable of storing all the information needed for a dataset was developed. Each functionality of SC has been specifically validated with real data with the purpose of bug-testing and methods validation. Data from the INTERPRET project was used.\n\nConclusions: SC is a user-friendly software designed to fulfil the needs of potential users in the MRS community. It accepts all kinds of pre-processed MRS data types and classifies them semi-automatically, allowing spectroscopists to concentrate on interpretation of results with the use of its visualisation tools.”
“Using an ultra-sensitive differential scanning calorimetry (US-DSC), we have investigated the folding and aggregation behaviors of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) chains in dilute and semidilute solutions. In the heating process, the intrachain folding and interchain aggregation simultaneously occur in the dilute solutions, and the ratio of intrachain folding increases with decreasing concentration.

2%), followed by hunger/thirst (25.0%). Comparison of UK and Irish placements showed both to portray high levels of unhealthy food cues. However, placements for sugar-sweetened beverages were relatively low on both channels. Conclusions

This study provides further evidence of the prominence of unhealthy foods in children’s programming. These data may provide guidance for healthcare professionals, regulators and programme makers in planning for a healthier portrayal of food and beverage in children’s television.”
“A prospective study was carried out to determine the current characteristics of patients affected by pneumopathy due to Pneumocystis (PPC), to identify those who could receive disease prevention treatment and to estimate the interest of the dosage of S-adenosyl methionine Compound Library in vitro (SAM) for non-invasive diagnosis of this infection. The parameters analyzed were the underlying diseases, the immunosuppressant KU-55933 supplier treatments received during the two years preceding the PPC and the number of lymphocytes

CD4+ at the time of the diagnosis. Fifty-six patients were included, with a median age of 64 +/- 14 years (23-82). The underlying diseases were hemopathy (n = 24, 43%) and/or solid tumor (n = 14, 25%) and/or a disease of system (n = 15, 27%) and/or transplant operation (n = 4, 7%). During the two preceding years, 37 (66%) patients had received immunosuppressant treatments among which cyclophosphamide (n = 22, 39%), vincristine (n = 13,

23%), cytarabine (n = 6, 11%), methotrexate (n = 5, 9%), etoposite (n = 4, 7%) and rituximab (n = 12, 21%). Forty patients (71%) had received a corticosteroid therapy longer than one month and one patient had received a treatment of infliximab. The average number of Lymphocytes was 0.47 x 10(9)/l (0.02-73.8). The median value of the number of lymphocytes CD4+ was 0.11 x 10(9)/l (0-1.4). The dosage of SAM was performed in 21 patients at D +/- 2 after diagnosis. The median value of the serum content was 10 ng/l(5.7-90). The underlying diseases and the immunosuppressant treatments associated with the risk of pneumocystosis evolved. The number of lymphocytes CD4+ did not allow specifying the disease prevention PHA-739358 purchase indications in these patients. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“The science of connective tissues has (at least) a double origin. Collagen, their major constituent was first studied in conjunction with the leather industry. Acid mucopolysaccharides (now glycosaminoglycans) were characterised by (bio)-chemists interested in glycoconjugates. They joined mainly hospital-based rheumatology departments. Later started the study of elastin with the discovery of elastases and of connective tissue-born (structural) glycoproteins. Besides rhumatologists and leather-chemists mainly pathologists became involved in this type of research, followed closely by ophthalmology research.