The presence of hypogammaglobulinemia or any peak taller than albumin was associated with an M-protein. Total protein concentrations, globulin concentrations, or peaks wider than albumin were not associated with an M-protein. Free LC sMRD cases were not diagnosed by SPE and routine IF. Cases with infectious and inflammatory etiologies had a restricted polyclonal gammopathy with multiple γ-globulin restrictions resulting in some false-positive results. SPE combined with all available IF results and the specific features identified in this study had an estimated sensitivity of 95.1% and specificity of 81.4%.
 
  The identified criteria of this study increase the diagnostic performance of the electrophoretic evaluation for M-proteins.
 The identified criteria of this study increase the diagnostic performance of the electrophoretic evaluation for M-proteins.Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease of progressive scarring caused by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and activation of α-SMA-expressing myofibroblasts. Human antigen R (HuR) is an RNA binding protein that promotes protein translation. Upon translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, HuR functions to stabilize messenger RNA (mRNA) to increase protein levels. However, the role of HuR in promoting ECM production, myofibroblast differentiation, and lung fibrosis is unknown. Human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) treated with transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) showed a significant increase in translocation of HuR from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. TGF-β-treated HLFs that were transfected with HuR small interfering RNA had a significant reduction in α-SMA protein as well as the ECM proteins COL1A1, COL3A, and FN1. HuR was also bound to mRNA for ACTA2, COL1A1, COL3A1, and FN. HuR knockdown affected the mRNA stability of ACTA2 but not that of the ECM genes COL1A1, COL3A1, or FN. In mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis, there was higher cytoplasmic HuR in lung structural cells compared to control mice. In human IPF lungs, there was also more cytoplasmic HuR. This study is the first to show that HuR in lung fibroblasts controls their differentiation to myofibroblasts and consequent ECM production. Further research on HuR could assist in establishing the basis for the development of new target therapy for fibrotic diseases, such as IPF.
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease related to HLA-DR8. Susceptibility to onychomycosis has been found in Mexican mestizos with HLA-DR8. The frequency of onychomycosis in this neurological disease is unknown.
 
  To determine the frequency of onychomycosis and its clinical, mycological, and dermoscopic characteristics in patients with MS in comparison with the general population.
 
  Observational, cross-sectional, case-control study in patients with MS from October 2017 to February 2018. Age, gender, MS type, and time of progression from diagnosis to date and baseline treatment were collected after signed informed consent. A neurological exploration and clinical examination of fingernails and toenails for onychomycosis was conducted. Mycological and dermoscopic studies of the infected nails were performed on patients with clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis. A healthy control group was taken for each case (11), paired by age and gender.
 
  The frequency of onychomycosis in patients with MS was higher than the healthy population (32% vs. 26%, P=0.509). A higher frequency of non-dermatophyte fungi was found, although it was not statistically significant. The clinical manifestations and dermoscopic findings in patients with MS and onychomycosis were similar to those of the general population.
 
  The frequency of onychomycosis in patients with MS is slightly higher than that of the general population. A possible association of HLA-DR8 as a susceptibility factor for onychomycosis is proposed. The etiology of opportunistic fungi in MS patients with onychomycosis may be related to immunosuppressive treatment.
 The frequency of onychomycosis in patients with MS is slightly higher than that of the general population. A possible association of HLA-DR8 as a susceptibility factor for onychomycosis is proposed. The etiology of opportunistic fungi in MS patients with onychomycosis may be related to immunosuppressive treatment.The genetic profile of vertebrate pallia has long driven debate on homology across distantly related clades. Based on an expression profile of the orphan nuclear receptor NR4A2 in mouse and chicken brains, Puelles et al. (The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2016, 524, 665-703) concluded that the avian lateral mesopallium is homologous to the mammalian claustrum, and the medial mesopallium homologous to the insula cortex. They argued that their findings contradict conclusions by Jarvis et al. (The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2013, 521, 3614-3665) and Chen et al.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/CP-690550.html  (The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2013, 521, 3666-3701) that the hyperpallium densocellare is instead a mesopallium cell population, and by Suzuki and Hirata (Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 2014, 8, 783) that the avian mesopallium is homologous to mammalian cortical layers 2/3. Here, we find that NR4A2 is an activity-dependent gene and cannot be used to determine brain organization or species relationships without considering behavioral state. Activity-dependent NR4A2 expression has been previously demonstrated in the rodent brain, with the highest induction occurring within the claustrum, amygdala, deep and superficial cortical layers, and hippocampus. In the zebra finch, we find that NR4A2 is constitutively expressed in the arcopallium, but induced in parts of the mesopallium, and in sparse cells within the hyperpallium, depending on animal stimulus or behavioral state. Basal and induced NR4A2 expression patterns do not discount the previously named avian hyperpallium densocellare as dorsal mesopallium and conflict with proposed homology between the avian mesopallium and mammalian claustrum/insula at the exclusion of other brain regions. Broadly, these findings highlight the importance of controlling for behavioral state and neural activity to genetically define brain cell population relationships within and across species.