Effect of corticosteroids on the biomechanical strength of rat rotator cuff tendon.

Background: The effect of corticosteroids on tendon properties is poorly understood, and current data are contradictory and diverse. The biomechanical effect of steroids on rotator cuff tendon has not been studied, to our knowledge. The current study was undertaken to characterize the biomechanical effects of corticosteroid exposure on both uninjured and injured rat rotator cuff tendon.

Binge alcohol-induced bone damage is accompanied by differential expression of bone remodeling-related genes in rat vertebral bone.

Binge alcohol-related bone damage is prevented by concurrent administration of bisphosphonates, suggesting an activation of bone resorption with patterned alcohol exposure. Although chronic alcohol abuse is known to cause osteopenia, little is known about the effects of binge drinking on bone metabolism. We examined the effects of binge alcohol exposure on the relationship between bone damage and modulation of bone remodeling-specific gene expression profiles.

Identification of novel bone-specific molecular targets of binge alcohol and ibandronate by transcriptome analysis.

Background: Our laboratory established that binge alcohol-related bone damage is prevented by aminobisphosphonates, suggesting bone resorption increases following binge exposure. We examined the effects of binge alcohol and antiresorptive therapy on the relationship between bone damage and modulation of the vertebral transcriptome, in an attempt to determine how alcohol-induced bone damage and its prevention modulate bone-related biological pathways.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 1 of 6 treatment groups (n = 12/group).

Vitamin D and ibandronate prevent cancellous bone loss associated with binge alcohol treatment in male rats.

Decreased bone mass and bone strength can result from excess alcohol consumption in humans and alcohol treatment in the rat. Although the specific mechanism is unknown, the damaging effects of alcohol abuse modulate the bone remodeling cycle and increase bone turnover. Chronic alcohol consumption models have shown an inhibition of bone formation.

The effect of corticosteroid on collagen expression in injured rotator cuff tendon.

Background: Subacromial corticosteroid injections are commonly used in the nonoperative management of rotator cuff disease. The effects of corticosteroid injection on injured rotator cuff tendons have not been studied. Our aims were to characterize the acute response of rotator cuff tendons to injury through the analysis of the type-III to type-I collagen expression ratio, a tendon injury marker, and to examine the effects of corticosteroid on this response.