A scoping review finds that guides to authors of protocols for observational epidemiological studies varied highly in format and content.

Objective: To identify, characterize, and explore author guides on the role, format, and content of protocols for observational epidemiological studies, particularly cohort and case-control studies.

Study Design And Setting: Scoping review. We searched for guides in Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, 10 general medical and epidemiological/public health journals, and 10 major funders' websites.

Adherence to the PRISMA-P 2015 reporting guideline was inadequate in systematic review protocols.

Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate to which degree systematic review protocols adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) reporting guideline.

Study Design And Setting: We randomly sampled 50 publications of systematic review protocols indexed in PubMed and 50 protocols uploaded to the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) from 2016 onward. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed adherence to the 26 items specified by PRISMA-P.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Treated with Decompression Alone. A Cohort of 346 Patients at a Large Spine Unit. Clinical Outcome, Complications and Subsequent Surgery.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Objective: To study the clinical outcome, complications and subsequent surgery rate of DA for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) with DS.

Summary Of Background Data: There is still no consensus regarding the treatment approach for LSS with DS.

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Fusion Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Background: The efficacy of fusion surgery in addition to decompression surgery in patients who have lumbar spinal stenosis, with or without degenerative spondylolisthesis, has not been substantiated in controlled trials.

Methods: We randomly assigned 247 patients between 50 and 80 years of age who had lumbar spinal stenosis at one or two adjacent vertebral levels to undergo either decompression surgery plus fusion surgery (fusion group) or decompression surgery alone (decompression-alone group). Randomization was stratified according to the presence of preoperative degenerative spondylolisthesis (in 135 patients) or its absence.

Expression of markers of activity in cultured human osteoblasts: effects of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13.

Cytokines regulate proliferation, differentiation and activation of osteoblasts. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) takes part in this regulation by inhibiting proliferation and by enhancement of interleukin-6 (IL-6) formation in cultured human osteoblasts (hOBs). In the present study we have investigated the effects of IL-4 and IL-13 on markers of osteoblastic activity in isolated hOBs.

Bone formation in interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 depleted mice.

Background And Purpose: Cytokines play an important role in the complex process of bone formation. We have previously found an altered skeletal phenotype with reduction of cortical bone mass in mice depleted of the 2 cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL 13). The present study was performed to investigate a potential role of IL-4 and IL-13 in fracture healing and bone induction by demineralized xenogenic bone matrix (DXBM).

Reduced cortical bone mass in mice with inactivation of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13.

The aim of the present study was to study the in vivo role of IL-4 and IL-13 on bone metabolism. The skeletal phenotypes of male and female IL-13(-/-) (n = 7+7), IL-4(-/-)IL-13(-/-) (n = 7+7), and WT (n = 7+7) mice were compared. Analysis was made at 6 weeks of age (juvenile) by pQCT, and at 20 weeks of age (adult) by pQCT, biomechanical testing, and by S-IGF-1 and S-Osteocalcin measurements.

Prostasomes are secreted from poorly differentiated cells of prostate cancer metastases.

Background: Prostasomes are small (40-500 nm), granule-like bodies, found in normal epithelial cells of the prostate and secreted into the prostate duct system. Also poorly differentiated prostate cancer cells are producing prostasomes, since we could isolate and purify prostasomes from vertebral metastases with biochemical methods. To find out whether these prostasomes are secreted into extracellular sites of the metastases, we used electron microscopy.

Interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 potentiate interleukin-1 induced secretion of interleukin-6 in human osteoblast-like cells.

Formation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in osteoblasts and bone marrow stromal cells is believed to regulate osteoclast recruitment. The anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 and -13 (IL-4 and IL-13) stimulate IL-6 production in human osteoblasts. We investigated the relative potencies, and synergistic effects, between IL-4, IL-13 and interleukin-1 (IL-1) on IL-6 formation in human osteoblast-like cells.

Osteoprotegerin secretion from prostate cancer is stimulated by cytokines, in vitro.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a member of the tumor necrosis receptor family, is produced by various tissues and inhibits osteoclast differentiation and activity. Since the metastasis of prostate cancer to bone often induces osteosclerosis, the possibility that these tumor cells secrete OPG is of interest. We have investigated whether the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP, PC-3, and DU-145 produce and secrete OPG in vitro and if the production might be regulated by cytokines involved in remodeling of bone.