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OA
Kinds of OA Terms modified by OA Selected AbstractsElectrochemical Detection of Cadmium and Lead Complexes with Low Molecular Weight Organic AcidsELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 3-5 2009Jaklová Dytrtová Abstract The Cd and Pb complexes with oxalic (OA) and citric acid (CA) were detected in model and soil solutions using cyclic and stripping voltammetry. A mixed complex consisting of Cd, Pb, and OA was found; its peak potential varied from ,582.0 to ,542.5,mV (vs. Ag/AgCl/KCl(3,mol L,1)). For mixed complex formation, the presence of PbOH+ species and Cd2+ in oxalic acid solution was necessary. Only the ,simple' complexes of CA with Pb and Cd were found in the model solution. The existence of all investigated metal complexes is confined to neutral pH range. The mixed complex was also found in real soil solutions. [source] Combined use of supported liquid membrane and solid-phase extraction to enhance selectivity and sensitivity in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of ochratoxin A in wineELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 7 2008Sara Almeda Abstract This paper proposes a novel strategy to enhance selectivity and sensitivity in CE, using supported liquid membrane (SLM) and off-line SPE simultaneously. The determination of ochratoxin A (OA) in wine has been used to demonstrate the potential of this methodology. In the SLM step, the donor phase (either a 20,mL volume of a standard solution at pH,1 or a wine sample at pH,8) was placed in a vial, where a micromembrane extraction unit accommodating the acceptor phase (1,mL water, pH,11) in its lumen was immersed. The SLM was constructed by impregnating a porous Fluoropore Teflon (PTFE) membrane with a water-immiscible organic solvent (octanol). In the off-line SPE step, the nonpolar sorbent (C-18, 4,mg) selectively retained the target ochratoxin, enabling small volumes of acceptor phase (1,mL) to be introduced. The captured analytes were eluted in a small volume of methanol (0.1,mL). This procedure resulted in sample cleanup and concentration enhancement. The method was evaluated for accuracy and precision, and its RSD found to be 5%. The LODs for OA in the standard solutions and wine samples were 0.5 and 30,,g/L, respectively. The results obtained demonstrate that SLM combined with off-line is a good alternative to the use of immunoaffinity columns prior to CE analysis. [source] Morphological and biochemical changes associated with apoptosis induced by okadaic acid in human amniotic FL cellsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Ming-luan Xing Abstract The marine toxin okadaic acid (OA) is an apoptosis inducer and a tumor promoter. During recent years, extensive studies have demonstrated that OA can induce apoptosis in a wide variety of cell types. In contrast to the relatively longer incubation time or higher treatment concentrations of OA in apoptosis shown previously, relatively lower concentrations (,100 nM) and shorter time (4 h) were designed in the current study to observe the toxic effects of OA in human amniotic cells (FL cells). The present study was undertaken to determine the morphological and biochemical changes of FL cells induced by OA. Results indicated that externalization of phosphatidylserine, cytoskeletal disruption, DNA strand breaks and decrease of Bcl-2 protein expression levels as well as increase of PP2A-A subunit protein were all involved in the apoptosis of FL cells induced by OA. This work not only provided further evidence of apoptosis induced by OA but also suggested that PP2A might play a pivotal role in apoptosis induced by protein phosphatases inhibitors. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2009. [source] Characteristics of okadaic acid,induced cytotoxic effects in CHO K1 cellsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2003C. Huynh-Delerme Abstract This article reports the results of investigations into the process of cell death induced in the Chinese hamster ovary cell K1 subclone (CHO K1) by okadaic acid (OA), a hydrophobic polyether produced by marine dinoflagellates. The IC50 was about 13 nM OA after 24 h of treatment, as determined using neutral red. With the MTT assay, the IC50 was 25 nM, although in this case 25% of the initial staining was still observed at 100 nM. Hoechst staining showed that mitotic figures accumulated at 12 nM OA after a 24- or 48-h treatment. In experiments limited to a 3-day treatment without changing the medium, CHO K1 cells were engaged in the death process at 50 nM OA after about 20 h and at 10 nM OA after 48 h. In many cells nuclear fragmentation that resulted in the apparent appearance of vesicles correlated with increasing cellular volume. But additional cell fragmentation was not observed with any treatment, and the chromatin material seemed to progressively disappear inside the cells. DNA fragmentation was analyzed by electrophoresis and with the TUNEL technique. With both techniques, the DNA was fragmented by 48 h in both 25 and 50 nM OA. Electrophoresis showed that both adherent and nonadherent cells were affected. Annexin-positive/ propidium iodide (PI),negative cells were rarely observed after OA treatment. Some were seen under the scanning cytometer after 20 h at 50 nM OA or after 48 h at 10 nM OA, but they were never detected by flow cytometry. Most of the time scanning cytometry showed either unstained cells or PI-positive (annexin-positive or -negative) cells (48 h, 50 nM, or 72 h, 10 nM). Flow cytometry cytograms showed two cell subpopulations: one composed of a majority of smaller cells, the other of larger cells. The larger cells markedly decreased with time and OA treatment (50 and 100 nM). Stained-cell counting showed that all cells that stained were both annexin- and PI positive and that most PI-positive cells were smaller. Ki67 antigen labeling showed the proliferative activity of CHO K1 cultures but also demonstrated the loss of this activity in smaller cells treated with 50 nM OA for 48 h. We concluded that in our culture conditions the main OA target within CHO K1 cultures was dividing cells. Our results suggest that cells with disturbed metaphase,anaphase enter apoptosis, leading to necrotic daughter cells. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 18: 383,394, 2003 [source] Concentration of methylprednisolone in the centrodistal joint after administration of methylprednisolone acetate in the tarsometatarsal jointEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 2 2005A. SERENA Summary Reasons for performing study: The centrodistal (CD) and tarsometatarsal (TMT) joints are often injected individually with a corticosteroid to resolve lameness caused by osteoarthritis (OA). There are no data available regarding diffusion of methylprednisolone (MP) from the TMT joint to the CD joint. Hypothesis: A therapeutic concentration of MP diffuses into the CD joint after methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) is administered into the TMT joint. Objective: To measure the concentration of MP in the CD joint after MPA was administered into the TMT joint. Methods: MPA was administered into a TMT joint of 16 horses. At different times, the ipsilateral CD joint of these horses was injected with a small amount of saline and recovered saline was measured for concentration of MP using high performance liquid chromatography. Results: Six hours after administration of MPA into the TMT joint, a therapeutic concentration of MP was found in all 10 CD joints sampled at this time. Conclusions: Horses with pain arising from the distal 2 joints of the hock can be treated by administering MPA into the TMT joint alone. Potential relevance: Administering MPA into the TMT joint only, to treat OA of the distal 2 hock joints, reduces the difficulties and risks associated with centesis of the CD joint. [source] Enamel microhardness and bond strengths of self-etching primer adhesivesEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 2 2010Olabisi A. Adebayo Adebayo OA, Burrow MF, Tyas MJ, Adams GG, Collins ML. Enamel microhardness and bond strengths of self-etching primer adhesives. Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 191,196. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between enamel surface microhardness and microshear bond strength (,SBS). Buccal and lingual mid-coronal enamel sections were prepared from 22 permanent human molars and divided into two groups, each comprising the buccal and lingual enamel from 11 teeth, to analyze two self-etching primer adhesives (Clearfil SE Bond and Tokuyama Bond Force). One-half of each enamel surface was tested using the Vickers hardness test with 10 indentations at 1 N and a 15-s dwell time. A hybrid resin composite was bonded to the other half of the enamel surface with the adhesive system assigned to the group. After 24 h of water storage of specimens at 37º°C, the ,SBS test was carried out on a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm min,1 until bond failure occurred. The mean ,SBS was regressed on the mean Vickers hardness number (VHN) using a weighted regression analysis in order to explore the relationship between enamel hardness and ,SBS. The weights used were the inverse of the variance of the ,SBS means. Neither separate correlation analyses for each adhesive nor combined regression analyses showed a significant correlation between the VHN and the ,SBS. These results suggest that the ,SBS of the self-etch adhesive systems are not influenced by enamel surface microhardness. [source] Hierarchical ZnS-In2S3 -CuS Nanospheres with Nanoporous Structure: Facile Synthesis, Growth Mechanism, and Excellent Photocatalytic ActivityADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2010Yingxuan Li Abstract Without using any templates or surfactants, hierarchical ZnS-In2S3 -CuS nanospheres with nanoporous structure are successfully synthesized via a simple and convenient process. The nanospheres are aggregations of densely packed nanoparticles and nanorods. Different to the oriented attachment (OA) mechanism reported in the literature, the formation of these nanorods is believed to follow a lateral OA mechanism (nanoparticles attach along the direction perpendicular to the crystallographic axes with lateral planes as the juncture) based on the experimental data. This process could be a general phenomenon and would provide a new insight into the OA mechanism. A detailed time-resolved TEM kinetic study of the formation of the complex structure is shown. The dipole mechanism and electric field-induced growth are found to be responsible for the final architecture. Photocatalytic activities for water splitting are investigated under visible-light irradiation (, > 400 nm) and an especially high photocatalytic activity (apparent yield of 22.6% at 420 nm) is achieved by unloaded ZnIn0.25Cu0.02S1.395 prepared at 180 °C for 18 h because of their high crystallinity, large pore volume, and the presence of nanorods with special microstructures. [source] Clean and Flexible Modification Strategy for Carboxyl/Aldehyde-Functionalized Upconversion Nanoparticles and Their Optical ApplicationsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 24 2009Huan-Ping Zhou Abstract Rare-earth upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) exhibit great potential in luminescent biolabels and other multifunctional probes; however, their applications are limited by their low water solubility and the lack of binding groups. To address these problems, a clean and flexible strategy to modify hydrophobic monodisperse UCNPs into hydrophilic ones that are capped with functional groups is developed. The modification process is implemented by direct oxidation of oleic acid ligands with ozone under specific conditions, where the oleic acid (OA) ligands on the surface of the UCNPs can be converted into azelaic acid ligands (HOOC(CH2)7COOH) or azelaic aldehyde HOOC(CH2)7CHO, as is revealed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. This oxidation process has no significant side-effects on the morphology, phase, composition, or luminescent properties of the UCNPs. Free carboxylic acid groups on the surface endow the UCNPs with good water solubility, while aldehyde groups at the surface provide binding sites for amino-containing molecules via Schiff-base condensation, such as 2-(4-aminophenylethylyl)-5-methoxy-2-(2-pyridyl)thiazole (MPTEA) and 2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride (NH2CH2CH2SH·HCl, HEMA). A Ce4+ sensor is constructed based on the dual-emission arising from the different spectral responses of MPTEA and the UCNPs. Facilitated by the covalent linkage between the terminal aldehyde group on the UCNPs and the amino group in HEMA, a hybrid structure of UCNPs and Au NPs is fabricated. The effective coupling between the aldehyde group and the amino group suggests that these functionalized UCNPs have potential in combining other functional units for simultaneous biolabeling, or other optical applications. [source] Composition- and Shape-Controlled Synthesis and Optical Properties of ZnxCd1,xS Alloyed Nanocrystals,ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 3 2005C. Li Abstract Composition-tunable ZnxCd1,xS alloyed nanocrystals have been synthesized by a new approach consisting of thermolyzing a mixture of cadmium ethylxanthate (Cd(exan)2) and zinc ethylxanthate (Zn(exan)2) precursors in hot, coordinating solvents at relatively low temperatures (180,210,°C). The composition of the alloyed nanocrystals was accurately adjusted by controlling the molar ratio of Cd(exan)2 to Zn(exan)2 in the mixed reactants. The alloyed ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals prepared in HDA/TOP (HDA: hexadecylamine; TOP: trioctylphosphine) solution exhibit composition-dependent shape and phase structures as well as composition-dependent optical properties. The shape of the ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals changed from dot to single-armed rod then to multi-armed rod with a decrease of Zn content in the ternary nanoparticles. The alloying nature of the ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals was consistently confirmed by the results of high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Further, the shape-controlled synthesis of the ternary alloyed nanocrystals was realized by selecting appropriate solvents. Uniform nanodots in the whole composition range were obtained from TOPO/TOP solution, (TOPO: trioctylphosphine oxide) and uniform nanorods in the whole composition range were prepared from HDA/OA solution (OA: octylamine). The effect of the reaction conditions, such as solvent, reaction temperature, and reaction time, on the PL spectra of the alloyed ZnxCd1,xS nanocrystals was also systematically studied, and the reaction conditions were optimized for improving the PL properties of the nanocrystals. [source] Quantitative determination of the diagnostic accuracy of the synovitis score and its componentsHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Elisabeth Slansky Slansky E, Li J, Häupl T, Morawietz L, Krenn V & Pessler F (2010) Histopathology,57, 436,443 Quantitative determination of the diagnostic accuracy of the synovitis score and its components Aims:, To assess the diagnostic accuracy of a three-component synovitis score and to determine the relative contribution of each of its components to its overall discriminatory power. Methods and results:, The synovitis score was determined in 666 synovial specimens: normal synovium, n = 33; post-traumatic arthropathy (PtA), n = 29; osteoarthritis (OA), n = 221; psoriatic arthritis (PsA), n = 42; and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), n = 341. The discriminatory abilities of the score and its components were quantified with binary and multicategory receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The score differentiated all arthropathies accurately from normal tissue (area under the ROC curve, AUC: 0.87,0.98) and RA from OA or PtA (AUC: 0.85 for both), but could not distinguish well within pairs of inflammatory or degenerative arthropathies. AUCs of the intimal hyperplasia and stromal cellularity components correlated with the AUCs of the complete score markedly more strongly (r = 0.94 and 0.91, respectively) than the inflammatory infiltration component (r = 0.60). Multicategory ROC analysis ranked the score several-fold higher than any of its components, and the components in the order stromal cellularity>intimal hyperplasia>infiltration. Conclusion:, Combining three distinct histological parameters into a three-component score produces greatly increased overall diagnostic power. The discriminatory ability of the score stems more from measuring proliferative than infiltrative aspects of synovitis. [source] B96Bom encodes a Bombyx mori tyramine receptor negatively coupled to adenylate cyclaseINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003H. Ohta Abstract A cDNA encoding a biogenic amine receptor (B96Bom) was isolated from silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae, and the ligand response of the receptor stably expressed in HEK-293 cells was examined. Tyramine (TA) at 0.1,100 µm reduced forskolin (10 µm)-stimulated intracellular cAMP levels by approximately 40%. The inhibitory effect of TA at 1 µm was abolished by yohimbine and chlorpromazine (each 10 µm). Although octopamine (OA) also reduced the cAMP levels, the potency was at least two orders of magnitude lower than that of TA. Furthermore, unlabelled TA (IC50 = 5.2 nm) inhibited specific [3H]TA binding to the membranes of B96Bom-transfected HEK-293 cells more potently than did OA (IC50 = 1.4 µm) and dopamine (IC50 = 1.7 µm). Taken together with the result of phylogenetic analysis, these findings indicate that the B96Bom receptor is a B. mori TA receptor, which is negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase. The use of this expression system should facilitate physiological studies of TA receptors as well as structure,activity studies of TA receptor ligands. [source] Comparison of the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia in the first cycle: a report of case series and meta-analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 1 2005MOHAMED GHANEM Summary To investigate the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with fresh and cryopreserved-thawed testicular spermatozoa in the first cycle in patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), a total of 90 cases, 48 OA and 42 NOA were studied. All patients underwent sperm retrieval by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) while their wives received conventional ovarian hyperstimulation. The hormone levels, testicular histology, the rates of sperm retrieval, fertilization, implantation and pregnancy were analysed and evaluated. This study and other four similar studies were subjected to meta-analysis. Sperm retrieval was successful in 100% OA and 61% NOA. Fresh spermatozoa were used in 87.5% and 92.4% of OA and NOA cases respectively; while cryopreserved-thawed spermatozoa were used in 12.5% and 7.6% of OA and NOA, respectively. The fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were 65.5%, 15% and 25% respectively in OA group, and 54.2%, 5% and 23.1% respectively in NOA group. Sperm status (fresh or thawed), male partner's age, female age and male serum follicle-stimulating hormone had no significant effect upon fertilization rate, implantation rate, or pregnancy rate per embryo transfer. The results of meta-analysis indicate that there is no statistically significant difference in clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups. There was a significantly higher fertilization rate among OA patients in all analysed studies (95% CI = 14.29,15.71, d.f. 832, T = 1.96). In conclusion, although the fertilization rate was significantly higher in the OA group in our study and from the given meta-analysis, there were some differences as regards pregnancy rates. Although the overall effect was more or less similar pregnancy rates in both subtypes of azoospermia, this may not be true if non-male infertility variables were controlled for in all studies. [source] On the realization of current transfer function using voltage amplifiers,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 5 2006R. Raut Abstract Current transfer function is a feature of current-mode filters. Current-mode filters have so far been realized principally using current amplifiers and current conveyors. Some current-mode filter architecture using operational amplifiers have also been reported. In this article it is shown that by using the principles of transposed network and nullor model for the active device, a current transfer function can be realized in a very simple way using a voltage amplifier, i.e. operational amplifier (OA). The key concept is the knowledge that each ideal (i.e. infinite gain) controlled source is exactly equivalent to a nullor. Thus, a voltage-mode filter implemented using an ideal three terminal (output, input and ground) OA can be very easily converted to a current-mode filter using the same OA. The principle has been illustrated by considering single-OA- and multi-OA-based second-order voltage-mode filters. SPICE simulation results are provided to validate the theoretical concept. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Glucosamine sulphate in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: cost-effectiveness comparison with paracetamolINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 6 2010S. Scholtissen Summary Introduction:, The aim of this study was to explore the cost-effectiveness of glucosamine sulphate (GS) compared with paracetamol and placebo (PBO) in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. For this purpose, a 6-month time horizon and a health care perspective was used. Material and methods:, The cost and effectiveness data were derived from Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index data of the Glucosamine Unum In Die (once-a-day) Efficacy trial study by Herrero-Beaumont et al. Clinical effectiveness was converted into utility scores to allow for the computation of cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) For the three treatment arms Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio were calculated and statistical uncertainty was explored using a bootstrap simulation. Results:, In terms of mean utility score at baseline, 3 and 6 months, no statistically significant difference was observed between the three groups. When considering the mean utility score changes from baseline to 3 and 6 months, no difference was observed in the first case but there was a statistically significant difference from baseline to 6 months with a p-value of 0.047. When comparing GS with paracetamol, the mean baseline incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was dominant and the mean ICER after bootstrapping was ,1376 ,/QALY indicating dominance (with 79% probability). When comparing GS with PBO, the mean baseline and after bootstrapping ICER were 3617.47 and 4285 ,/QALY, respectively. Conclusion:, The results of the present cost-effectiveness analysis suggested that GS is a highly cost-effective therapy alternative compared with paracetamol and PBO to treat patients diagnosed with primary knee OA. [source] Symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis: paracetamol or NSAIDs?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 2004Karel PAVELKA MD SUMMARY The clinical management of osteoarthritis (OA) is today symptomatic, its main goals being relief of pain and improvement of function. Therapy should be multimodal and composed of non-pharmacological, pharmacological and, if necessary, surgical procedures. Paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are evidence-based drugs for the symptomatic relief of OA. Newly published comparative studies have shown that NSAIDs are more effective than paracetamol , in contrast to studies from the early 1990s. Some studies have documented that more severe pain and the presence of inflammation can predict better response from NSAIDs than from paracetamol; on the other hand other studies have not confirmed this. Patient preference studies have shown that patients favour NSAIDs, but up to 40% consider paracetamol at least as effective as NSAIDs. With regard to efficacy, safety and cost, the majority of new guidelines recommend paracetamol as a first-choice analgesic for patients with OA of the knee or hip, and the use of NSAIDs only in cases of inadequate effect of paracetamol and especially in the presence of inflammation. There is much evidence that OA is a phasic disease and it may be that NSAIDs are useful during identifiable periods of inflammatory activity and can be avoided at other times. The concept of the short-term use of NSAIDs during flares and the use of a simple analgesic in the long term seems to be the best variant for the majority of patients with optimal benefit/risk and cost-effectiveness. [source] Schmorl's nodes in a post-medieval skeletal sample from Klostermarienberg, AustriaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Article first published online: 11 NOV 200, H. Üstünda Abstract The prevalence and distribution pattern of Schmorl's nodes (SNs) were studied in a post-medieval skeletal sample (n,=,473) from the 16th,18th century cemetery of Klostermarienberg, Austria. The reasons for the prevalence and distribution pattern of SNs in this sample are discussed with regard to their aetiology. SNs were correlated with age and sex as well as with degenerative spinal joint disease such as vertebral osteophytosis (VO) and apophyseal osteoarthritis (OA). SNs were most commonly found in the lower thoracic region, in agreement with other studies. Males were more affected than females by SNs, especially in the lower thoracic region. SNs show a completely different distribution pattern to VO and OA. Additionally, there was no relationship found between SNs and ageing. Observed differences in the prevalence of SNs in the vertebral column and between the sexes suggest that mechanical factors may be responsible. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A case of bilateral scapholunate advanced collapse in a Romano-British skeleton from AncasterINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2006A. M. Roberts Abstract Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the wrist (radiocarpal joint) is relatively uncommon in modern Western populations, usually occurring as a result of trauma. Clinically, scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) is the most common pattern of DJD seen in the wrist, involving a progressive destruction of the radioscaphoid and then the capitolunate joint. There is only one report of SLAC wrist in the palaeopathological literature. In this paper, we report on another ancient case of bilateral SLAC wrists, found in a Roman skeleton from Ancaster, Lincolnshire. The osteological analysis of ANC 01 217 skeleton determined that this was an elderly but robust adult (50+ years) male, about 165,cm tall. The bones were sufficiently well preserved to allow inspection of joint surfaces. The bones were also radiographed. Osteoarthritis (OA) was diagnosed according to accepted palaeopathological criteria: principally the presence of eburnation on a joint surface. Eburnation was found at the articular surfaces of the wrist joint and numerous intercarpal joints bilaterally. The pattern of joints affected matched modern clinical descriptions of SLAC wrist. Radiographic changes characteristic of OA were identifiable at the wrist joint, but not at the intercarpal joints. This case proves that SLAC wrist is identifiable in dry bones, but the discrepancy between the observational and radiographic findings highlights the problems encountered when attempting to compare disease in archaeological versus modern populations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Lipid peroxidation, glutathione, vitamin E, and antioxidant enzymes in synovial fluid from patients with osteoarthritisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 4 2009Werasak SUTIPORNPALANGKUL Abstract Aim:, To compare levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in synovial fluid from primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients with severe cartilage damage undergoing total knee replacement with those in the synovial fluid from injured knee joint patients with intact cartilage undergoing knee arthroscopy. Methods:, Thirty-two OA patients and 10 injured knee joint patients were recruited. Lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARs]), iron and glutathione (GSH) were measured using a colorimetric method. Vitamin E was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Activities of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase [GPx], superoxide dismutase [SOD]) were analyzed with the use of a kinetic method. Results:, TBARs, iron and GSH levels in synovial fluid were not significantly different between OA patients and injured knee joint patients. Antioxidant enzymes such as GPx and SOD activities also indicated no significant difference. Only vitamin E level was significantly lower in the synovial fluid of OA patients than in that of the injured knee joint patients. Conclusions:, Oxidative stress may have a role in pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis. Vitamin E supplementation may have a role in the management of patients. [source] A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of erythromycin in patients with knee effusion due to osteoarthritisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 1 2009Shahram SADREDDINI Abstract Objective:, The efficacy of erythromycin in treatment of knee effusion due to osteoarthritis was evaluated. Method:, We assessed efficacy and safety of erythromycin during 16 weeks in patients enrolled in a randomized double-blind study. One hundred and eight patients with knee effusion due to osteoarthritis (OA) received 12-week courses of erythromycin or placebo allocated randomly, and were followed for 4 months. Acetaminophen 650 mg/day was used in both groups, while they received no other anti-inflammatory drugs (such as corticosteroid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) during the course of the study. Our patients were divided in two groups, erythromycin in doses of 200 mg four times per day was given to the first group (51 patients) over the first 3 months of the study and in the second group we used placebo with the same dosage and schedule (53 patients). Outcomes improvement for the erythromycin-treated group was assessed by a significantly higher mean score from baseline to the end of the trial, compared with placebo group. Patients were examined monthly during the treatment period. Measurement values included recording of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire subscales (pain, stiffness and function), range of motion and knee circumference. Results:, Erythromycin produced a higher response rate than placebo in treatment of knee effusion due to OA. Significant reduction in knee circumference (P < 0.0005) and pain (P < 0.001) with functional improvement (P < 0.0005) were seen. At the first month after treatment, 11.8% (6 patients) in erythromycin and 9.4% (5 patients) in placebo groups had 50% pain reduction, which was not significant (P = 0.75). At the fourth month, 50% reduction of pain was seen in 45.1% (23 patients) of the erythromycin and 11.3% (6 patients) of the placebo group. This was statistically significant (P < 0.0005). Erythromycin treatment was well tolerated and mild adverse events caused no discontinuation during the study. Conclusion:, This is a placebo-controlled study of macrolid efficacy on knee effusion due to OA in a short period. Results of this research showed the better efficacy of erythromycin in controlling effusion and pain with functional improvement in patients with knee effusion due to OA. [source] Predictors of disability among Filipinos with knee osteoarthritisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 3 2008Ester G. Penserga Abstract Aims: This study aims to describe the level of disability of Filipino patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in relation to common risk factors. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional analytic study. Patients with knee osteoarthritis diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology criteria for the classification of knee OA, seen at East Avenue Medical Center, using the Quezon City, Philippines, were entered by convenient sampling. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC (va) 3.1 Tagalog Version) osteoarthritis index was used. Self-reported disability was measured by the function subscale of the WOMAC OA index and used as the dependent variable. Independent variables assessed as possible risk factors affecting disability were age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), education (in years), number of comorbidities present, smoking status (pack years), duration of knee OA, pain and stiffness. Categories of disability were identified as high, moderate and low. Analyses of the data were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13. Results: Eighty-five subjects were included in the study. The mean disability score was 674.1 ± 318.81 (moderate disability). Chi-square tests showed that the categories or levels of disability are not significantly dependent on the categorical variables. Significant direct correlations were seen between mean disability and weight (r = 0.260, P = 0.016), pain (r = 0.574, P = 0.000), and stiffness (r = 0.616, P = 0.000). Conclusion: This is the first study analysing the relationship between disability and specific risk factors among Filipino patients with knee OA. Self-reported disability of knee OA in the population studied was strongly related to pain scores, weight and joint stiffness scores. [source] Pulsed Signal Therapy® for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions: a millennium paradigmINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 3 2004Richard MARKOLL Abstract Reports and reviews from various sources, including the World Health Organization and United Nations Population Division, confirm the general increasing trend in the ageing population groups worldwide. There are over 150 types of musculoskeletal conditions, with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, low back pain and limb trauma, accounting for the greatest impact on the population at large. Osteoarthritis (OA) is predicted to become the fourth leading cause of disability by the year 2020. The most common medication prescribed for OA is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These have long been associated with numerous adverse effects, are costly and short-term in their ,therapeutic' effect. Pulsed Signal Therapy® (PSTÔ) is an innovative treatment modality for musculoskeletal conditions. It has been commercially available since 1992, is currently employed in at least 800 clinics and/or medical institutes, and to-date, no adverse effects have been reported. Furthermore, it is non-invasive, non-pharmacological, painless, with long-term follow-up, and sustained efficacy. When connective tissue is injured and physiological signalling is disturbed or absent, PSTÔ, as the external, biophysical signal (stimulus) of physiological energy parameters and waveform, passively induces ,fluid flow' in the injured area, creating ,streaming potentials', that induce biophysical-biochemical coupling, subsequent signal transduction, to activate repair and regenerative processes. In doing so, it restores the innate, physiological signalling to enable these regenerative and repair processes to continue naturally. [source] Efficacy and Safety of Rofecoxib 12.5 mg Versus Nabumetone 1,000 mg in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Randomized Controlled TrialJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2004Alan J. Kivitz MD Objectives: To evaluate the use of starting doses of rofecoxib and nabumetone in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Design: A 6-week, randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Setting: One hundred thirteen outpatient sites in the United States. Participants: A total of 1,042 male and female patients aged 40 and older with OA of the knee (>6 months). Interventions: Rofecoxib 12.5 mg once a day (n=424), nabumetone 1,000 mg once a day (n=410), or placebo (n=208) for 6 weeks. Measurements: The primary efficacy endpoint was patient global assessment of response to therapy (PGART) over 6 weeks, which was also specifically evaluated over the first 6 days. The main safety measure was adverse events during the 6 weeks of treatment. Results: The percentage of patients with a good or excellent response to therapy as assessed using PGART at Week 6 was significantly higher with rofecoxib (55.4%) than nabumetone (47.5%; P=.018) or placebo (26.7%; P<.001 vs rofecoxib or nabumetone). Median time to first report of a good or excellent PGART response was significantly shorter in patients treated with rofecoxib (2 days) than with nabumetone (4 days, P=.002) and placebo (>5 days, P<.001) (nabumetone vs placebo; P=.007). The safety profiles of rofecoxib and nabumetone were generally similar, including gastrointestinal, hypertensive, and renal adverse events. Conclusion: Rofecoxib 12.5 mg daily demonstrated better efficacy over 6 weeks of treatment and quicker onset of OA efficacy over the first 6 days than nabumetone 1,000 mg daily. Both therapies were generally well tolerated. [source] Effect of an organic acid blend and phytase added to a rapeseed cake-containing diet on performance, intestinal morphology, caecal microflora activity and thyroid status of broiler chickensJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1 2010S. Smulikowska Summary The experiment was carried out on 96 female broilers, allocated to eight groups of 12 birds kept in individual cages. Two basal wheat- and soyabean meal-based diets containing 150 g/kg of rapeseed expeller cake were formulated, differing in the level of P: 7.1 g/kg in diet H or 5.9 g/kg in diet L. Rapeseed cake supplied 3.15 ,mol alkenyl glucosinolates per gram of diet. The eight treatments were: basal diets only, basal diets + phytase (1000 U/kg), basal diets + organic acid blend (OA, 6 g/kg), or basal diets + both additives. Diets were fed from day 8 to 28 of life. The results showed that the lower dietary P content and OA supplementation did not significantly affect feed intake or BWG, while both increased (p < 0.001) after phytase supplementation. Tibia ash content as well as tibia ultimate strength were lower (p < 0.001) in birds fed diets L compared with diets H, and increased (p < 0.01) with phytase supplementation of diet L, while OA had no influence on either parameter. Dietary P levels and OA supplementation had no influence on the pH of gut digesta, but the pH of jejunal digesta increased following phytase supplementation (p < 0.01). Morphological measurements of the small intestinal mucosa of chicks indicated that OA added to diet L depressed villi height (p < 0.001) and crypt depth (p < 0.001); both parameters increased after phytase supplementation (p < 0.01). The lower total SCFA as well as acetic, propionic and butyric acid concentrations in caecal digesta indicated lower activity of caecal microflora in birds fed diets L compared with H. OA supplementation had no influence, while phytase supplementation increased the concentration of acetic acid in caecal digesta. Supplementation of diets with either phytase or OA increased thyroid weight by 16% (p < 0.01) and 11% (p < 0.05) respectively. The increase in thyroid weight because of phytase supplementation was greater at the lower dietary P level, and the greatest when both phytase and OA were added to the diet. [source] Safety and therapeutic efficacy of undenatured type-ii collagen (UC-II) in comparison to glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic horsesJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 2 2009R. C. Gupta Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, which causes severe inflammation and loss of cartilage. It is a debilitating disease that commonly affects thousands of horses each year. Recently, we assessed the anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory potential of undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) in horses. This comparative investigation evaluated arthritic pain in horses receiving daily placebo, UC-II 320 mg/day (providing 80 mg active UC-II), 480 mg/day (providing 120 mg active UC-II), or 640 mg/day (providing 160 mg active UC-II), and glucosamine and chondroitin (5.4 g/day and 1.8 g/day, respectively, bid for the first month, and thereafter once daily) for 150 days. Pain in each leg was evaluated using the flexion test and the lameness-grading system after the initial two strides. Average pain of all four legs represented the pain for each horse. Horses receiving placebo showed no change in arthritic condition, while those receiving 320, 480, or 640 mg UC-II exhibited significant reduction in arthritic pain (P < 0.05). UC-II at 480 mg dose provided optimal effects. With this dose, reduction in overall pain was from 5.7 ± 0.0.42 (100%) to 0.7 ± 0.42 (12%); and in pain upon limb manipulation from 2.35 ± 0.37 (100%) to 0.52 ± 0.18 (22%). In regards to glucosamine and chondroitin treated group, although reduction in pain was significant compared to pretreated values, the efficacy was significantly less compared with that observed with UC-II. UC-II was found to be twice as effective as glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic horses. Clinically, physical condition, and liver (ALP, GGT, and bilirubin), kidney (BUN and creatinine), and heart (CK) functions remained unchanged, suggesting that these supplements were well tolerated. Overall, these results demonstrate that UC-II was significantly more efficacious than glucosamine and chondroitin in arthritic horses. [source] Effects of hay intake and feeding sequence on variables in faeces and faecal water (dry matter, pH value, organic acids, ammonia, buffering capacity) of horsesJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1-2 2004A. Zeyner Summary To investigate effects of hay intake and feeding sequence on indicators of the microbial activity within the hindgut, six horses were fed 1.00 kg oats plus 0.50, 0.67, 0.83 or 1.00 kg hay/100 kg body weight (BW) × day, each for 14 days. Oats was offered either 30 min prior to hay (OA) or in the reversed sequence (HA) in a 2 × 8-week crossover design. Because typically exercised horses should be subjected to the study, faeces was used as substrate. Faecal dry matter (DM), the faecal waters' short-chain fatty acids (SCFA, in mmol/l) and molar percentages (mol%) of propionate and iso-butyrate were highest with OA (p < 0.01). Acetate mol%, acetate,propionate quotient (A/P) and buffering capacities 1 and 2 (BC1: current pH to pH 6; BC2: pH 6 to 5) of the faecal water were highest with HA (p < 0.01). While the hay intake rose, faecal pH, acetate mol%, A/P, BC1 and BC2 (the latter with HA only) increased (p < 0.05), but DM, SCFA and propionate mol% declined (p < 0.05). The hay-induced rise in A/P and BC1 was much higher with HA than with OA. l -Lactate and ammonia were unaffected by the feeding sequence and hay intake. In conclusion, hay intake and feeding sequence influence the microbial activity within the hindgut, although the concentrate level remains consistent. In horse rations with 1.00 kg oats/100 kg BW × day amounts of at least 0.83 kg hay/100 kg BW × day and offering the hay first seem to have the potency to protect the hindgut content from acidification. Behavioural abnormality was not observed any longer first with 1.00 kg hay/100 kg BW × day. [source] Comparison of alternatives to in-feed antimicrobials for the prevention of clinical necrotic enteritisJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2010M.S. Geier Abstract Aims:, The capacity for Lactobacillus johnsonii and an organic acid (OA) blend to prevent Clostridium perfringens -induced clinical necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens was studied. Methods and Results:, Cobb 500 birds were allocated into six groups (n = 25 birds/pen, eight pens/treatment); Unchallenged, Challenged, Antimicrobial (zinc bacitracin (ZnB)/monensin), OA, probiotic Lact. johnsonii and probiotic sham (Phosphate,buffered saline). All birds were challenged with Eimeria spp. and Cl. perfringens except for unchallenged controls. Birds fed antimicrobials were protected from NE development as indicated by maintenance of body weight, low mortality and clostridium levels, and decreased intestinal macroscopic lesion scores compared to challenged controls (P < 0·05). Lactobacillus johnsonii -fed birds had reduced lesion scores, whilst OA-fed birds had decreased Cl. perfringens levels. Both Lact. johnsonii and OA-fed birds had improved feed efficiency between days 0 and 28 compared to challenged controls; however, mortality and body weights were not improved by either treatment. Microbial profiling indicated that the challenge procedure significantly altered the jejunal microbiota. The microbiota of antimicrobial-fed birds was significantly different from all other groups. Conclusions:, Whilst Lact. johnsonii and OA altered specific intestinal parameters, significant protection against NE was not observed. Significance and Impact of the Study:,Lactobacillus johnsonii and OA did not prevent NE; however, some improvements were evident. Other related treatments, or combinations of these two treatments, may provide greater protection. [source] Effect of molecular relaxation of acrylic elastomers on impact toughening of polybutylene terephthlateJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 4 2007Nafih Mekhilef Abstract In this study, we examined the performance of two core-shell acrylic-based impact modifiers (AIM) prepared by emulsion polymerization. The rubber core was prepared from ethyl hexyl acrylate (EHA) and n -octyl acrylate (n -OA). In such as process, the particle size and particle-size distribution of the modifiers were precisely controlled, so that performance differences observed in polybutylene terephthlate (PBT), used as matrix resin, could only be interpreted in terms of the nature of the elastomeric component of the modifiers. When isolated, the rubber core of the modifiers showed identical glass transition temperatures (Tg) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) despite the fact that they were made from two different acrylic monomers. Temperature-frequency superposition principle inferred from the classical WLF equation showed that the rubber components exhibit the same Tg at all frequencies including at the time scale at which mechanical impact typically occurs. However, significant differences in low temperature impact performance measured at ,30°C using notched Izod impact test according to ASTM D 256 were obtained even though their rubber components had identical Tg. Such differences were attributed to the dynamic relaxation behavior of the rubber components and identified as inherent properties of the elastomers due to the structure of the monomers' repeat units. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007 [source] Immortalized cell lines from mouse xiphisternum preserve chondrocyte phenotypeJOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Manas K. Majumdar Chondrocytes are unique to cartilage and the study of these cells in vitro is important for advancing our understanding of the role of these cells in normal homeostasis and disease including osteoarthritis (OA). As there are limitations to the culture of primary chondrocytes, cell lines have been developed to overcome some of these obstacles. In this study, we developed a procedure to immortalize and characterize chondrocyte cell lines from mouse xiphisternum. The cells displayed a polygonal to fibroblastic morphology in monolayer culture. Gene expression studies using quantitative PCR showed that the cell lines responded to bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) by increased expression of matrix molecules, aggrecan, and type II collagen together with transcriptional factor, Sox9. Stimulation by IL-1 results in the increased expression of catabolic effectors including MMP-13, nitric oxide synthase, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5. Cells cultured in alginate responded to BMP-2 by increased synthesis of proteoglycan (PG), a major matrix molecule of cartilage. IL-1 treatment of cells in alginate results in increased release of PG into the conditioned media. Further analysis of the media showed the presence of Aggrecanase-cleaved aggrecan fragments, a signature of matrix degradation. These results show that the xiphisternum chondrocyte cell lines preserve their chondrocyte phenotype cultured in either monolayer or 3-dimensional alginate bead culture systems. In summary, this study describes the establishment of chondrocyte cell lines from the mouse xiphisternum that may be useful as a surrogate model system to understand chondrocyte biology and to shed light on the underlying mechanism of pathogenesis in OA. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 551,559, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] CXCL12 chemokine up-regulates bone resorption and MMP-9 release by human osteoclasts: CXCL12 levels are increased in synovial and bone tissue of rheumatoid arthritis patientsJOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Francesco Grassi Chemokines are involved in a number of inflammatory pathologies and some of them show a pivotal role in the modulation of osteoclast development. Therefore, we evaluated the role of CXCL12 chemokine on osteoclast differentiation and function and we analyzed its expression on synovial and bone tissue biopsies from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Osteoclasts were obtained by 7 days in vitro differentiation with RANKL and M-CSF of CD11b positive cells in the presence or absence of CXCL12. The total number of osteoclast was analyzed by Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-staining and bone-resorbing activity was assessed by pit assay. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 release was evaluated by ELISA assay. CXCL12 expression on biopsies from RA patients was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Osteoclasts obtained in the presence of CXCL12 at 10 nM concentration displayed a highly significant increase in bone-resorbing activity as measured by pit resorption assay, while the total number of mature osteoclasts was not affected. The increased resorption is associated with overexpression of MMP-9. Immunostaining for CXCL12 on synovial and bone tissue biopsies from both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) samples revealed a strong increase in the expression levels under inflammatory conditions. CXCL12 chemokine showed a clear activating role on mature osteoclast by inducing bone-resorbing activity and specific MMP-9 enzymatic release. Moreover, since bone and synovial biopsies from RA patients showed an elevated CXCL12 expression, these findings may provide useful tools for achieving a full elucidation of the complex network that regulates osteoclast function in course of inflammatory diseases. J. Cell. Physiol. 199: 244,251, 2004© 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Development of selective tolerance to interleukin-1, by human chondrocytes in vitro,JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Greta M. Lee Interleukin-1 induces release of NO and PGE2 and production of matrix degrading enzymes in chondrocytes. In osteoarthritis (OA), IL-1 continually, or episodically, acts on chondrocytes in a paracrine and autocrine manner. Human chondrocytes in chondron pellet culture were treated chronically (up to 14 days) with IL-1,. Chondrons from OA articular cartilage were cultured for 3 weeks before treatment with IL-1, (0.05,10 ng/ml) for an additional 2 weeks. Spontaneous release of NO and IL-1, declined over the pretreatment period. In response to IL-1, (0.1 ng/ml), NO and PGE2 release was maximal on Day 2 or 3 and then declined to near basal level by Day 14. Synthesis was recovered by addition of 1 ng/ml IL-1, on Day 11. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), detected by immunofluorescence, was elevated on Day 2 and declined through Day 14, which coordinated with the pattern of NO release. On the other hand, IL-1,-induced MMP-13 synthesis was elevated on Day 3, declined on Day 5, and then increased again through Day 14. IL-1, increased glucose consumption and lactate production throughout the treatment. IL-1, stimulated proteoglycan degradation in the early days and inhibited proteoglycan synthesis through Day 14. Chondron pellet cultures from non-OA cartilage released the same amount of NO but produced less PGE2 and MMP-13 in response to IL-1, than OA cultures. Like the OA, IL-1,-induced NO and PGE2 release decreased over time. In conclusion, with prolonged exposure to IL-1,, human chondrocytes develop selective tolerance involving NO and PGE2 release but not MMP-13 production, metabolic activity, or matrix metabolism. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||