Vascularization of primary and secondary ossification centres in the human growth plate.

Background: The switch from cartilage template to bone during endochondral ossification of the growth plate requires a dynamic and close interaction between cartilage and the developing vasculature. Vascular invasion of the primarily avascular hypertrophic chondrocyte zone brings chondroclasts, osteoblast- and endothelial precursor cells into future centres of ossification.Vascularization of human growth plates of polydactylic digits was studied by immunohistochemistry, confocal-laser-scanning-microscopy and RT-qPCR using markers specific for endothelial cells CD34 and CD31, smooth muscle cells α-SMA, endothelial progenitor cells CD133, CXCR4, VEGFR-2 and mesenchymal progenitor cells CD90 and CD105.

Differential tissue expression and activation of p38 MAPK alpha, beta, gamma, and delta isoforms in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Activation of p38 MAPK is a key signaling step in chronic inflammation. Inhibition of p38 MAPK is considered to be a promising future strategy to control inflammatory diseases, but studies of compounds to inhibit this kinase have so far been limited to investigation of their side effects. We undertook the present study to investigate which specific molecule, among 4 different isoforms of p38 MAPK (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), is predominantly expressed and activated in inflammation.

Intraosseous lipoma: retrospective analysis of 29 patients.

We reviewed 29 patients with intraosseous lipoma treated between 1985 and 2002. Mean patient age was 48 (20-75) years. According to Milgram's classification, ten cases were classified as stage I, 14 as stage II, and three as stage III.