This test independently adds to the prognostic information provided by standard clinicopathological analysis, improving prostatectomy case stratification into those at high and low risk for biochemical recurrence. This new clinical tool would be of particular benefit to assess intermediate risk cases (Gleason 7) in which risk stratification

remains SU5402 manufacturer a challenge.”
“Purpose: Among men with biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy little is known about prostate specific antigen at the time of metastasis to bone in hormone naive patients. This information would be useful in determining when to initiate androgen deprivation therapy.

Materials and Methods: From a large radical prostatectomy series we identified 193 hormone naive men in whom bone metastases developed selleck inhibitor at a mean of 6 years postoperatively. We examined the prostate specific antigen distribution at bone scan conversion by time from radical prostatectomy to metastasis. ANOVA and linear regression were

also used to examine the association of clinicopathological tumor features with prostate specific antigen at bone metastasis.

Results: Median prostate specific antigen was 31.9 ng/ml at the initial diagnosis of metastatic disease. Bone scan conversion occurred at a prostate specific antigen of less than 10, 10 to 100 and greater than 100 ng/ml in 50 (25.9%), 98 (50.8%) and 45 (23.3%) men, respectively. Lower prostate specific antigen at diagnosis, higher prostatectomy Gleason scores and shorter time to metastasis were associated with lower prostate specific antigen at bone metastasis, whereas prostate specific antigen at metastasis was not significantly associated with other clinicopathological features.

Conclusions: Prostate specific antigen at the time of bone scan detected metastasis is highly variable. Unlike the pretreatment setting when metastases are rare at a prostate

specific antigen of less than 10 ng/ml, 25.9% of bone metastases after radical prostatectomy occurred at a prostate specific antigen of less than 10 ng/ml. Because metastasis may occur at a low prostate specific antigen, patients with biochemical progression managed expectantly need Camptothecin regular bone scans even if prostate specific antigen is low to detect metastasis before symptoms.”
“Purpose: We describe mortality in patients with prostate cancer with and without bone metastasis further characterized by skeletal related events.

Materials and Methods: We performed a cohort study of 23,087 incident patients with prostate cancer with a median 2.2-year followup identified through the Danish National Patient Registry from 1999 to 2007. We estimated the cumulative incidence of bone metastasis and skeletal related events, and described survival using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Simultaneous deletion of pUL11 and gM led to additive growth defects and, in RK13 cells, to the formation of large intracytoplasmic inclusions of capsids and tegument material, comparable to

those in PrV-Delta UL11/gM-infected RK13 cells. The defects of HSV-1 Delta UL11 and HSV-1 Delta UL11/gM could be partially corrected in trans by pUL11 of PrV. Thus, our data indicate that PrV and HSV-1 pUL11 and gM exhibit similar functions in cytoplasmic steps of virion assembly.”
“OBJECTIVE: The management of upper cervical spinal instability in children continues to represent a technical challenge. Traditionally, a number of wiring techniques followed by halo orthosis have Thiazovivin in vitro been applied; however, they have been associated with a high rate of nonunion and poor tolerance for the halo. Alternatively, Pritelivir cost C1-C2 transarticular screws and C2 pars/pedicle screws allow more rigid fixation, but they are technically demanding and associated with vertebral artery injuries. Recently, C2 translaminar screws have been added to the armamentarium of the pediatric spine surgeon as a technically simple and biomechanically efficient method of fixation. However, subaxial

translaminar screws have not been described in the pediatric population. We describe our experience with axial and subaxial translaminar screws in 7 pediatric patients.

METHODS: Seven pediatric patients with the diagnosis of upper cervical spinal instability required surgical fixation (age, 19 months-14 years; sex, 4 boys and 3 girls; follow-up, 4-21 months; etiology, trauma [3 patients], os odontoideum/os terminale [2 patients), hypoplastic dens [2 patients]). All patients underwent axial and/or subaxial translaminar screw insertion. iliac crest bone graft was used for fusion in 4 patients; bone morphogenic protein and cancellous morselized allograft was used for fusion in 3 patients. A rigid cervical collar was applied for 12 weeks postoperatively in all cases. No intraoperative image guidance was used for insertion of the translaminar screws.

RESULTS: All patients had a postoperative computed tomographic scan. Two patients underwent placement of bilateral crossing C2 translaminar screws. Two patients

had subaxial translaminar screw placement at C3 and the upper thoracic spine, respectively. Hybrid constructs (a C2 translaminar screw combined with a C2 pars screw) Oxygenase were incorporated in 3 patients. No patients were found to have a breach of the ventral laminar cortex. All patients achieved solid fusion. One patient had a perioperative complication: prolonged dysphagia probably related to C1 lateral mass screw insertion rather than C2 translaminar screw placement.

CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this report represents the only series of pediatric patients treated with axial and subaxial translaminar screws. This series shows that axial and subaxial translaminar screw fixation is a viable option for upper cervical spinal fusion in children.

We also showed that the overexpression of the PAI-1 impaired the migration capacity of BM- and PMSC while silencing of PAT-1 enhanced the migration capacity of UC-MSC. Our study indicates that PAI-1 and other migration-related proteins are pivotal in governing the migration capacity of MSC.”
“Humans usually point at objects to communicate with other persons,

selleck products although they generally avoid pointing at the other’s body. Moreover, patients with heterotopagnosia after left parietal damage cannot point at another person’s body parts, although they can point at objects and at their own body parts and although they can grasp the others’ body parts. Strikingly, their performance gradually improves for figurative human body targets. Altogether, this suggests that the body of another real person holds a specific status in communicative pointing. Here, we test in healthy individuals whether performance for communicative pointing is influenced by the communicative capacity of the target. In Experiment 1, pointing at another real person’s body parts was compared to pointing at objects, and in Experiment 2, the person was replaced by a manikin. While reaction times for pointing at objects were shorter compared to pointing at other person’s body parts, they were similar for

objects and manikin body parts. By adapting Experiment 1 to PET-scan imaging (Experiment Captisol 3), we showed that, compared to pointing at objects, the brain network for pointing at other person’s body parts involves the left posterior MycoClean Mycoplasma Removal Kit intraparietal sulcus, lesion of which could cause heterotopagnosia. Taken together, our results indicate that the specificity of pointing at another person’s body goes beyond the visuo-spatial features of the human body and might rather rely on its communicative capacity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The removal by splicing of introns from

the primary transcripts of most mammalian genes is an essential step in gene expression. Splicing is performed by large, complex ribonucleoprotein particles termed spliceosomes. Mammals contain two types that splice out mutually exclusive types of introns. However, the role of the minor spliceosome has been poorly studied. Recent reports have now shown that mutations in one minor spliceosomal snRNA, U4atac, are linked to a rare autosomal recessive developmental defect. In addition, very exciting recent results of exome deep-sequencing have found that recurrent, somatic, heterozygous mutations of other splicing factors occur at high frequencies in particular cancers and pre-cancerous conditions, suggesting that alterations in the core splicing machinery can contribute to tumorigenesis. Mis-splicing of crucial genes may underlie the pathologies of all of these diseases. Identifying these genes and understanding the mechanisms involved in their mis-splicing may lead to advancements in diagnosis and treatment.”
“Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is widely used as an oncolytic agent for cancer therapy.

Methods and Results: After rat aortic denudation injury the neointimal cell number increased several 100-fold between days 4 and 28, preceded by a 5-fold increase in the number of adventitial cells and a 4-fold increase in the number of adventitial microvessels. The influx, migration, and maturation of neointimal cells were quantitated by culturing whole vessel explants at different time points after injury. JSH-23 molecular weight Explant outgrowth increased 14-fold, and cell migration 3.5-fold on days 2-14 after injury. Cell proliferation increased less than 2-fold. The frequency of precursors to outgrowing cells, determined using

limiting dilution analysis, increased 8-fold between days 2 and 4 after injury. Many outgrowing cells displayed characteristics of undifferentiated cells. Conclusions: Adventitial activation precedes development of the neointima, and precursor cell influx occurs on days 2-14 after injury. Cell migration, more than proliferation, contributes to fibrointimal dysplasia. learn more These findings underline the importance of early therapeutic intervention with antimigratory compounds to prevent neointimal hyperplasia. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Angiogenesis is essential for the growth

and maturation of the ovarian follicle and its transition into the corpus luteum. In addition to the main proangiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast

growth factor (bFGF), follicular fluid (FF) contains the hormone prolactin (PRL), which is known to promote angiogenesis in vivo. Here, we show that FF from large follicles, which contains twice the PRL level of FF from small follicles, stimulates endothelial cell proliferation to a greater extent than the latter, and that immunoneutralization of PRL prevents FF from stimulating endothelial cell proliferation. Notably, the FF increases the expression of the short and long PRL receptor isoforms in endothelial cells, and a purified PRL standard stimulates endothelial cell proliferation but Plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase only after the cells have been pretreated with FF. However, purified PRL activates the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in endothelial cells in the absence of pretreatment with FF. In summary, PRL present in the FF stimulates the proliferation of endothelial cells. This effect likely involves the upregulation of the short and long PRL receptor isoforms and is independent of PRL-induced JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Background: Atherosclerotic epicardial coronary arteries are a major cause of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Recently, we found that intramyocardial capillaries may also play a role in AMI induction. We have now evaluated intramyocardial capillaries using ultrastructural analysis in AMI patients. Methods: 43 AMI patients (with AMI in the left ventricle) and 27 controls.

Chronic nicotine had no behavioral effect but withdrawal produced deficits in contextual fear conditioning that lasted 4 days. Nicotine withdrawal did not disrupt cued fear conditioning. Chronic nicotine upregulated hippocampal cytisine-sensitive nAChR binding; upregulation continued after cessation of nicotine administration and the duration of upregulation during withdrawal paralleled the duration of behavioral changes. Changes in

binding in cortex and cerebellum did not match behavioral changes. No changes CRT0066101 research buy in alpha 4, alpha 7, and 132 subunit mRNA expression were seen with chronic nicotine. Thus, nicotine withdrawal-related deficits in contextual learning are time-limited changes that are associated with temporal changes in upregulation of high-affinity nAChR

binding. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A putative proton wire in AZD9291 mw potato soluble epoxide hydrolase 1, StEH1, was identified and investigated by means of site-directed mutagenesis, steady-state kinetic measurements, temperature inactivation studies, and X-ray crystallography. The chain of hydrogen bonds includes five water molecules coordinated through backbone carbonyl oxygens of Pro(186), Leu(266), His(269), and the His(153) imidazole. The hydroxyl of Tyr(149) is also an integrated component of the chain, which leads to the hydroxyl of Tyr(154). Available data suggest that Tyr(154) functions as a final proton donor to the anionic alkylenzyme

intermediate formed during catalysis. To investigate the role of the putative proton wire, mutants Y149F, H153F, and Y149F/H153F were constructed and purified. The structure of the Y149F mutant was solved by molecular replacement and refined to 2.0 angstrom resolution. Comparison with the structure of wild-type StEH1 revealed only subtle structural differences. The hydroxyl group lost as a result of the mutation was replaced by a water molecule, thus maintaining a functioning hydrogen bond network in the proton wire. All mutants showed decreased catalytic efficiencies with the R, R-enantiomer of trans-stilbene oxide, whereas with the S, S-enantiomer, k(cat)/K-M was similar or slightly increased compared with the wild- type reactions. k(cat) for the Y149F mutant with either TSO enantiomer was increased; thus the lowered Amino acid enzyme efficiencies were due to increases in KM. Thermal inactivation studies revealed that the mutated enzymes were more sensitive to elevated temperatures than the wild- type enzyme. Hence, structural alterations affecting the hydrogen bond chain caused increases in kcat but lowered thermostability.”
“The first transmissions of human prion diseases to rodents used guinea pigs (Gps, Cavia porcellus). Later, transgenic mice expressing human or chimeric human/mouse PrP replaced Gps, but the small size of the mouse limits some investigations.

The deleterious effects of muscle fatigue on joint position sense were therefore dependent upon the laterality of the proprioceptive inputs related to muscle contraction. GW2580 These results suggested that sensory weighting for proprioception gives priority to inputs available bilaterally over the ones available in a single limb only. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: An ideal pharmaceutical

treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is to prevent aneurysm formation and development (further dilatation of pre-existing aneurysm). Recent studies have reported that oxidative stress with reactive oxygen species (ROS) is crucial in aneurysm formation. We hypothesized that edaravone, a

free-radical scavenger, would attenuate vascular oxidative stress and inhibit AAA formation and development.

Methods: An AAA model induced with intraluminal elastase and extraluminal calcium chloride was created in 42 rats. Thirty-six rats were divided three groups: a low-dose (group LD; 1 mg/kg/d), high-dose (group HD; 5 mg/kg/d), and control (group C, saline). Edaravone or saline was intraperitoneally injected twice daily, selleck chemical starting 30 minutes before aneurysm preparation. The remaining six rats (group DA) received a delayed edaravone injection (5 mg/kg/d) intraperitoneally, starting 7 days after aneurysm preparation to 28 days. AAA dilatation ratio was calculated. Pathologic examination was performed. ROS expression was semi-quantified by dihydroethidium staining and the oxidative product of DNA induced by ROS, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), by immunohistochemical staining.

Results: At day PLEKHB2 7, ROS expression and 8-OHdG-positive cells in aneurysm walls were decreased by edaravone treatment (ROS expression: 3.0 +/- 0.5 in group LD, 1.7 +/- 0.3 in group HD, and 4.8 +/- 0.7 in group C;

8-OHdG-positive cells: 106.2 +/- 7.8 cells in group LD, 64.5 +/- 7.7 cells in group HD, and 136.6 +/- 7.4 cells in group C; P < .0001), compared with group C. Edaravone treatment significantly reduced messenger RNA expressions of cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in aneurysm walls (MMP-2: 1.1 +/- 0.5 in group LD, 0.6 +/- 0.1 in group HD, and 2.3 +/- 0.4 in group C; P < .001; MMP-9: 1.2 +/- 0.1 in group LD, 0.2 +/- 0.6 in group HD, and 2.4 +/- 0.2 in group C; P < .001). At day 28, aortic walls in groups LD and HD were less dilated, with increased wall thickness and elastin content than those in group C (dilatation ratio: 204.7% +/- 16.0% in group C, 156.5% +/- 6.6% in group LD, 136.7% +/- 2.0% in group HD; P < .0001). Delayed edaravone administration significantly prevented further aneurysm dilatation, with increased elastin content (155.2% +/- 2.9% at day 7, 153.1% +/- 11.6% at day 28; not significant).

Together with emotional changes in pain appraisal, our findings provide objective representation of sweet taste-induced analgesia in the human brain. NeuroReport 21: 427-431 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) are thalidomide analogues, which possess pleiotropic anti-myeloma properties including immune-modulation, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects. see more Their development was facilitated

by an improved understanding in myeloma (MM) biology and initiated a profound shift in the therapeutic approach towards MM. Despite the diverse effects of IMiDs in vitro, the relative contribution of each effect towards their ultimate anti-MM activity is still unclear. Based on in vitro data, it appears that anti-proliferative effects and downregulation of crucial cytokines are their most important anti-MM attributes. Although the co-stimulatory effects on T and NK cells have been heralded Selleckchem Batimastat as a unique and important property of IMiDs towards enhancing anti-MM immune activity, these in vitro effects have yet to be firmly corroborated in vivo. Much is yet to be elucidated regarding the complex interplay of immunomodulatory cytokines that occurs in vivo, which ultimately dictates the net effects of IMiDs in MM-the understanding of which is necessary to facilitate optimal manipulation of these drugs

in future MM management. Leukemia (2010) 24, 22-32; doi:10.1038/leu.2009.236; published online 12 November 2009″
“The

existence of mirror neurons in Macaque monkeys helps to explain many social abilities of primates. Controversy exists, however, over whether human functional brain measures reveal mirror neuron activity. Claims have been made that measures such as electroencephalographic mu suppression reflect a human mirror neuron system such as that seen in monkeys, but more data are needed to support these claims. Here we report significantly greater mu suppression for participants’ execution of an action compared with observation of the same action, similar to the pattern seen in monkeys. Current data therefore support the claim that electroencephalographic mu suppression reflects mirror neuron activity in humans. NeuroReport 21: 432-435 (C) 2010 Wolters Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Treatment using Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) inhibitors is a promising approach to overcome the dismal prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with activating FLT3 mutations. Current trials are combining FLT3 inhibitors with p53-activating conventional chemotherapy. The mechanisms of cytotoxicity of FLT3 inhibitors are poorly understood. We investigated the interaction of FLT3 and p53 pathways after their simultaneous blockade using the selective FLT3 inhibitor FI-700 and the MDM2 inhibitor Nutlin-3 in AML.

However, standard transrectal ultrasound biopsy missed 12 of these high grade cancers (55%). Pathological upgrading occurred in 28 men (38.9%) as a result of magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion targeting vs standard transrectal ultrasound biopsy. The diagnostic yield of combined magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound

fusion platform was unrelated to the number of previous negative biopsies and persisted despite increasing selleck the number of previous biopsy sessions. On multivariate analysis only prostate specific antigen density and magnetic resonance imaging suspicion level remained significant predictors of cancer.

Conclusions: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging with a magnetic resonance imaging/ultrasound fusion biopsy platform is a novel diagnostic tool for detecting prostate cancer and may be ideally suited for patients with negative transrectal

ultrasound biopsies in the face of a persistent clinical suspicion for cancer.”
“Of the numerous animal models available for proteomic studies only a small number have been successfully used in understanding human biology. To date, rodents have been widely employed in find more proteomic and genomic studies but often these models do not truly mimic the relevant human conditions. On the other hand, the pig shows similarity in size, shape and physiology to human and has been used as a major mammalian model for many studies concerning xenotransplantation, cardiovascular diseases, blood dynamics, nutrition, general metabolic functions, digestive-related disorders, respiratory diseases, diabetes, kidney and bladder diseases, organ-specific toxicity, dermatology and neurological sequelae. With the substantially improved knowledge of the structure and function of the Verteporfin clinical trial pig genome in the last two decades it has been found that this animal

shares a high sequence and chromosomal structure homology with humans. Nevertheless, in comparison to other available model organisms, very little work has been devoted to pig proteomics until recently. Keeping this in mind, the present review will highlight some of the advantages and disadvantages of pig as a model system for proteomic studies.”
“Purpose: AR-V7, a ligand independent splice variant of androgen receptor, may support the growth of castration resistant prostate cancer and have prognostic value. Another variant, AR-V1, interferes with AR-V7 activity. We investigated whether AR-V7 or V1 expression would predict biochemical recurrence in men at indeterminate (about 50%) risk for progression following radical prostatectomy.

Materials and Methods: AR-V7 and V1 transcripts in a mixed grade cohort of 53 men in whom cancer contained 30% to 70% Gleason grade 4/5 and in a grade 3 only cohort of 52 were measured using a branched chain DNA assay.

We have earlier shown that AMPA treatment attenuated GSK3 beta activity. Our data suggest that AMPA reduces the cell surface expression of NMDA receptors TPCA-1 datasheet through the regulation of GSK3 beta and, consequently, reduces the amount of intracellular Ca(2+). NeuroReport

20:161-165 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Routine use of the automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay Abbott ARCHITECT (R) anti-HBc for diagnosis of hepatitis B is limited in case of borderline reactive sera with low signal close to the cut-off index. In order to determine the significance of anti-HBc detection when borderline reactivity occurs using the ARCHITECT (R) anti-HBc assay, a comparative study was designed. 3540 serum samples collected over a 2-month period in the Torin 1 nmr hospital of Nice were examined for markers of HBV infection (HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc). One hundred seven samples with sufficient volume and with borderline reactivity by the ARCHITECT (R) assay were tested by two other anti-HBc assays, a microparticle enzyme immunoassay

(MEIA, AxSYM (R) Core (TM), Abbott Laboratories, IL, USA) and an enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA, VIDAS (R) Anti-HBc Total II, bioMerieux, Lyon, France). Only 46 samples were confirmed by the AxSYM (R) and the VIDAS (R) assays. Additional serological information linked to patient history showed that the remaining samples (61) were false positives (11), had low titer of anti-HBc antibodies (13), or were inconclusive (37). This comparative study highlighted the existence of a grey zone around the cut-off index. Confirmative results through a different immunoassay are needed to confirm the diagnosis of HBV on borderline reactive sera using the ARCHITECT (R) anti-HBc assay. PIK3C2G (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“The relative latencies of evoked electroencephalogram potentials to lateralized visual stimuli were used to calculate the interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) in right-handed and left-handed males. We confirmed earlier observations of a directional asymmetry in right-handed

males. That is, IHTT from the right to the left hemisphere is significantly shorter than from the left to the right We showed for the first time, however, that this directional asymmetry is not seen in left-handed males. It is suggested that differences in the cytoarchitechtonics of the right and left hemisphere (differences that may result in lateralization of function per se) underlie the asymmetric IHTT in right handers, and that these differences are less pronounced in left handers. NeuroReport 20:166-169 (C) 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“The early diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunosuppressed patients has been improved by molecular detection of CMV DNA.

Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 1091-1101; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.81; published online 26 April 2010″
“Structural and functional brain abnormalities have been described

in anorexia nervosa (AN). The objective of this study was to TGF-beta inhibitor examine whether there is abnormal regional brain activation during a working memory task not associated with any emotional stimuli in adolescent patients with anorexia and to detect possible changes after weight recovery. Fourteen children and adolescents (age range 11-18 years) consecutively admitted with DSM-IV diagnosis of AN and fourteen control subjects of similar age were assessed by means of psychopathological scales and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a working memory task. After seven months of treatment and weight recovery, nine AN patients were reassessed. Before treatment, the AN group showed significantly higher activation than controls in temporal and parietal areas and especially in the temporal superior gyrus during performance of

the cognitive task. Control subjects did not show greater activation than AN patients in any region. A negative correlation was found between brain activation and body mass index and a positive correlation between activation and depressive symptomatology. At follow-up after weight recovery, AN patients showed a decrease in brain activation in these areas and did not present differences with respect to controls. These results show that adolescent AN patients showed hyperactivation in the parietal and especially the temporal lobe during a working see more memory task, suggesting that they must make an additional effort to perform at normal levels. This activation correlated with clinical variables. In these young patients, differences with respect to controls disappeared after weight recovery. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“CD24 is a small, highly glycosylated cell surface protein that is linked to the membrane through a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol anchor. It is overexpressed in many human carcinomas and its expression is linked to bad prognosis. Lately, lack or low expression

of CD24 was used to identify tumor stem cells resulting in conflicting data on the usefulness of this marker. In many Cediranib (AZD2171) immunohistochemical studies, the mAb SN3b was used but the epitope and specificity of this antibody have never been thoroughly investigated. In other studies based mainly on cytofluorographic analysis, the mAb ML-5 was applied. In this study, we compared the epitope of mAb SN3b to the CD24 mAbs SWA-11 and ML-5 that both bind to the core protein of CD24. Using tissue microarrays and affinity-purified CD24 glycoforms, we observed only a partial overlap of SN3b and SWA11 reactivity. The mAb SN3b recognizes sialic acid most likely on O-linked glycans that can occur independently of the CD24 protein backbone.