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Objectives: We aimed to determine how loss of response (LOR) to adalimumab (ADA) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) may be related to anti-ADA antibodies (AAA).Method: AAA and ADA levels were measured in 23 consecutive patients with JIA responding significantly to treatment with ADA.Results: Six out of 23 (26%) patients developed AAA and had low ADA levels. Five out of six AAA-positive patients experienced LOR. In these patients use of concomitant methotrexate (MTX) was significantly lower.Conclusions: The occurrence of AAA is a frequent event associated with LOR. Monitoring of AAA and serum ADA levels should be considered in JIA patients under ADA therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic organic matter (BOM) is of ubiquitous relevance in all aquatic systems. This is due to the fundamental function of the natural organic matter in combination with the microbial activity which guarantees the degradation in and the self purification of water in the hydrological cycle. In addition, the refractory part of the widely distributed BOM acts as effective adsorbent for most water constituents, and in case of mobile fractions as active vehicle for pollutants. In contrast to the broad importance of the occurrence and role of BOM, there is a fairly small variety for its analytical characterization. Especially in the field of in-situ measurements and of the determination in the original concentration range of aqueous samples, relatively little data have been collected. This is partly due to the complex structure of BOM, partly to the limited availability of analytical methods suited for that type of investigations. The aim of the paper is to give typical examples for the a) physical/chemical, b) microbiological and c) technologically orientated methods of the analytical characterization of BOM in aqueous solution and to draw conclusions on thefunction of BOM and their use for man. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]