Bones or Stones: How Can We Apply Geophysical Techniques in Bone Research?

Some studies have used physical techniques for the assessment of bone structure and composition. However, very few studies applied multiple techniques, such as those described below, at the same time. The aim of our study was to determine the chemical and mineralogical/organic composition of bovine tibial bone samples using geophysical/geochemical reference techniques.

Schizotypy and perceptual span in a non-clinical sample: a virtual reality study.

Introduction: Individuals with high schizotypy or schizophrenia exhibit difficulties in distributing their attention across space, leading to a reduction in their "perceptual span" - the extent of visual space that can be attended to at once. In this study, we aim to explore the correlation between schizotypy and perceptual span in a non-clinical sample to investigate whether perceptual span correlates with schizotypy across its range.

Methods: Schizotypy was assessed in fifty-five participants using the Schizotypy Personality Questionnaire (SPQ; Raine, 1991).

Perineural Capsaicin Treatment Inhibits Collateral Sprouting of Intact Cutaneous Nociceptive Afferents.

Perineural treatment of peripheral nerves with capsaicin produces a long-lasting selective regional thermo- and chemo-analgesia and elimination of the neurogenic inflammatory response involving degeneration of nociceptive afferent fibers. In this study, we examined longitudinal changes in mustard oil-induced sensory neurogenic vasodilatation and plasma extravasation following perineural capsaicin treatment of the rat saphenous nerve utilizing scanning laser Doppler imaging and vascular labeling with colloidal silver. Capsaicin treatment resulted in a marked decrease in mustard oil-induced vasodilatation in the skin area served by the saphenous nerve.

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Activity in Anti-TNF-Treated Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients.

Introduction: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 have been implicated in the regulation of vascular physiology. Elevated synovial and decreased or normal ACE or ACE2 levels have been found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Very little is known about the effects of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibition on ACE or ACE2 homeostasis.

Is treated hypopituitarism associated with increased left ventricular strains?-detailed analysis from the three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR-Path Study.

Reduced secretion of one or more of the hormones normally produced by the pituitary gland is called hypopituitarism, which is a rare and frequently underdiagnosed condition. Hypopituitarism can be present at birth called congenital or may develop due to acquired causes like tumor, infection, infiltration, vascular or other causes. Symptoms of hypopituitarism are highly dependent on which hormones are insufficient.

Left Ventricular Rotational Abnormalities in Treated Hypopituitarism: Insights From the Three-Dimensional Speckle-Tracking Echocardiographic MAGYAR-Path Study.

Hypopituitarism is a rare, often underdiagnosed, complex hormonal disease caused by the decreased secretion of one or more hormones in the pituitary gland. The present study was designed to assess left ventricular (LV) rotational mechanics in patients with treated hypopituitarism. It was also aimed to find possible differences in these parameters according to the origin of hypopituitarism (congenital vs.

Changes of Metabolic Biomarker Levels upon One-Year Anti-TNF-α Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis: Associations with Vascular Pathophysiology.

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) morbidity, mortality, and metabolic syndrome are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Here, lipids and other metabolic markers in relation to vascular function and clinical markers were evaluated in RA and AS patients undergoing one-year anti-TNF therapy.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-three patients including 36 RA patients treated with either etanercept (ETN) or certolizumab pegol (CZP) and 17 AS patients treated with ETN were included in a 12-month follow-up study.

Associations of vascular and bone status in arthritis patients.

Cardiovascular (CV) disease and osteoporosis (OP) have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Bone and vascular biomarkers and parameters along with the effect of 1-year anti-TNF therapy on these markers were assessed in order to determine correlations between vascular pathophysiology and bone metabolism in RA and AS. Thirty-six patients treated with etanercept or certolizumab pegol and 17 AS patients treated with ETN were included in a 12-month follow-up study.

Peripheral quantitative computed tomography in the assessment of bone mineral density in anti-TNF-treated rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are associated with osteoporosis. There have not been many peripheral quantitative computed tomography (QCT) studies in patients receiving biologics. We assessed volumetric and areal bone mineral density (BMD) by forearm QCT and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), respectively in addition to laboratory biomarkers in these arthritides.

Soluble Vascular Biomarkers in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis: Effects of 1-year Antitumor Necrosis Factor-α Therapy.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have been associated with cardiovascular disease. The treatment of arthritis by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibitors may decrease the serum concentrations of vascular biomarkers. We determined circulating levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)/β glycoprotein I (β-GPI) complexes, antibodies to 60 kDa heat shock protein (anti-Hsp60), soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) fragment in sera of RA and AS patients undergoing anti-TNF treatment.

Longitudinal Study of Functional Reinnervation of the Denervated Skin by Collateral Sprouting of Peptidergic Nociceptive Nerves Utilizing Laser Doppler Imaging.

Restitution of cutaneous sensory function is accomplished by neural regenerative processes of distinct mechanisms following peripheral nerve lesions. Although methods available for the study of functional cutaneous nerve regeneration are specific and accurate, they are unsuitable for the longitudinal follow-up of the temporal and spatial aspects of the reinnervation process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a new, non-invasive approach for the longitudinal examination of cutaneous nerve regeneration utilizing the determination of changes in the sensory neurogenic vasodilatatory response, a salient feature of calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nociceptive afferent nerves, with scanning laser Doppler flowmetry.

Complex assessment of bone mineral density, fracture risk, vitamin D status, and bone metabolism in Hungarian systemic sclerosis patients.

Objective: We wished to determine bone alterations in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients by conventional densitometry (DXA), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), and bone biomarkers.

Methods: We included 44 SSc patients and 33 age-matched healthy controls. Lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by DXA.

Effects of 1-year anti-TNF-α therapies on bone mineral density and bone biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have been associated with generalized and localized bone loss. We conducted a comprehensive study using imaging (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, DXA) and laboratory biomarkers in order to determine bone health and to study the effects of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologics in RA and AS.

Patients And Methods: Thirty-six RA and 17 AS patients undergoing 1-year etanercept (ETN) or certolizumab-pegol (CZP) therapy were studied.

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Docking Studies of 13-Epimeric 10-fluoro- and 10-Chloroestra-1,4-dien-3-ones as Potential Aromatase Inhibitors.

Fluorination of 13-epimeric estrones and their 17-deoxy counterparts was performed with Selectfluor as the reagent. In acetonitrile or trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), 10β-fluoroestra-1,4-dien-3-ones were formed exclusively. Mechanistic investigations suggest that fluorinations occurred via SET in acetonitrile, but another mechanism was operative in TFA.

Laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS): use of a geological tool in assessing bone mineral content.

Bone may be similar to geological formulations in many ways. Therefore, it may be logical to apply laser-based geological techniques in bone research. The mineral and element oxide composition of bioapatite can be estimated by mathematical models.

[Vitamin D metabolism and osteoporosis in systemic sclerosis].

In the past few years more and more data have become available on the important role of vitamin D in immunological processes and inflammation. The role of vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis as well as in disease progression of different autoimmune and inflammatory conditions is suspected. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in several autoimmune diseases, including systemic sclerosis.

[Importance of gross deletions in the diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex: the first Hungarian cases].

Tuberous sclerosis complex is a rare disease with high phenotypic heterogeneity, characterized by the appearance of multiplex hamartomas in the different organs. The disease is inherited by autosomal dominant manner, due to the mutations of two genes: the TSC1 or the TSC2. In this publication we present the cases of two young male and two middle-aged female patients, where pathogenetic differences of TSC1/TSC2 could not be verified by Sanger sequencing.

Effects of targeted therapies on the bone in arthritides.

Inflammatory arthritides, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritides (SpA) have been associated with both localized bone resorption and/or formation, and generalized osteoporosis. Systemic inflammation may be the major driver for bone loss in arthritis. In RA and peripheral SpA the RANK-RANKL-OPG network is involved in bone resorption, while in axial SpA the Wnt-β-catenin axis and its inhibitors (DKK-1, sclerostin) are the most relevant.

Baseline Characteristics and Disease Phenotype in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Objectives: Predicting short-term relapses and long-term prognosis is of utmost importance in paediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to investigate the short-term disease outcome and medication during the first year in a paediatric incident cohort from Hungary. In addition, association laboratory markers and disease activity indices with short-term disease outcome and medication were analysed.

[Applicability of laser-based geological techniques in bone research: analysis of calcium oxide distribution in thin-cut animal bones].

The structural similarities between the inorganic component of bone tissue and geological formations make it possible that mathematic models may be used to determine weight percentage composition of different mineral element oxides constituting the inorganic component of bone tissue. The determined weight percentage composition can be verified with the determination of element oxide concentration values by laser induced plasma spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. It can be concluded from calculated weight percentage composition of the inorganic component of bone tissue and laboratory analyses that the properties of bone tissue are determined primarily by hydroxylapatite.