Publications by authors named "Francisco Gomar"

Aging and exposure to stress would determine the chondrocyte phenotype in osteoarthritis (OA). In particular, chronic inflammation may contribute to stress-induced senescence of chondrocytes and cartilage degeneration during OA progression. Recent studies have shown that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells exert paracrine effects protecting against degenerative changes in chondrocytes.

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by degenerative changes in the whole joint leading to physical disability in the elderly population. This condition is associated with altered bone metabolism in subchondral areas suggesting that therapeutic strategies aimed at modifying bone cell metabolism may be of interest. We have investigated the effects of several parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP)-derived peptides (1-37): (N-terminal), (107-111) and (107-139) (C-terminal) on senescence features induced by inflammatory stress in human OA osteoblasts.

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequent joint disorder and an important cause of disability. Recent studies have shown the potential of adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSC) for cartilage repair. We have investigated whether conditioned medium from AD-MSC (CM) may regulate in OA chondrocytes a number of key mediators involved in cartilage degeneration.

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Primary bone lymphangiomatosis is a disease of unknown etiology that can cause lytic lesions in long bones, the pelvis, the spinal column and the cranium. We are presenting the case of a woman with localized bone lymphangiomatosis in the left knee. The authors believe this is the first case in which percutaneous osteoplasty was used in long bones for the treatment of bone lesions resulting from this disease showing good clinical results.

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease showing altered bone metabolism. Osteoblasts contribute to the regulation of cartilage metabolism and bone remodeling. We have shown previously that induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protects OA cartilage against inflammatory and degradative responses.

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Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most widespread degenerative joint disease. Inflamed synovial cells contribute to the release of inflammatory and catabolic mediators during OA leading to destruction of articular tissues. We have shown previously that CO-releasing molecules exert anti-inflammatory effects in animal models and OA chondrocytes.

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IL (interleukin)-1β plays an important role in cartilage extracellular matrix degradation and bone resorption in OA (osteoarthritis) through the induction of degradative enzymes and pro-inflammatory mediators. In the present study, we have determined the consequences of HO-1 (haem oxygenase-1) induction on markers of inflammation and senescence in the functional unit cartilage-subchondral bone stimulated with IL-1β. Cartilage-subchondral bone specimens were obtained from the knees of osteoarthritic patients.

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Purpose: To assess mid- to long-term outcomes of cementless primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in younger patients.

Methods: Records of 28 women and 34 men (75 hips) aged 18 to 55 (mean, 38) years who underwent primary THA using a hydroxyapatite-coated stem and a threaded cup and had been followed up for a mean of 10 (6-15) years were reviewed. 13 of the patients had bilateral THAs.

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Introduction: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is released by necrotic cells or secreted in response to inflammatory stimuli. Extracellular HMGB1 may act as a pro-inflammatory cytokine in rheumatoid arthritis. We have recently reported that HMGB1 is released by osteoarthritic synoviocytes after activation with interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) The present study investigated the role of HMGB1 in synovial inflammation in osteoarthritis (OA).

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Objectives: Activation of osteoarthritic synoviocytes by pro-inflammatory cytokines results in the release of biochemical mediators such as MMPs and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Extracellular HMGB1 can play an important role in joint diseases as a mediator of synovitis. We have shown previously that haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) exerts protective effects during inflammatory responses.

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Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) may participate in the pathogenesis of cartilage damage in osteoarthritis (OA) through the production of catabolic enzymes and inflammatory mediators. Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has previously been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects in different cell types. We have investigated whether HO-1 induction may modify chondrocyte viability and the production of relevant mediators such as oxidative stress and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) elicited by IL-1beta in OA chondrocytes.

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We have investigated the effects of a carbon monoxide-releasing molecule, tricarbonyldichlororuthenium(II) dimer (CORM-2), on catabolic processes in human osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage and chondrocytes activated with interleukin-1beta. In these cells, proinflammatory cytokines induce the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanases, including members of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin domain (ADAMTS) family, which may contribute to cartilage loss. CORM-2 down-regulated MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-10, MMP-13, and ADAMTS-5 in OA chondrocytes, and it inhibited cartilage degradation.

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Treatment of non-unions and delayed unions often requires osteogenic material. Recently, a biomimetic bone matrix that simulates the cellular environment of hard tissue, identified as P-15, was introduced to the orthopaedic community. A total of 22 patients with mal-union or delayed union fractures was treated from June 2000 to October 2003 with P15- bone graft substitute (P15-BGS) in the site of fracture and mostly with internal fixation.

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New noninvasive techniques, amongst them structured light methods, have been applied to study rachis deformities, providing a way to evaluate external back deformities in the three planes of space. These methods are aimed at reducing the number of radiographic examinations necessary to diagnose and follow-up patients with scoliosis. By projecting a grid over the patient's back, the corresponding software for image treatment provides a topography of the back in a color or gray scale.

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ITB (6-(p-bromophenyl)amino-7-(p-chlorophenyl)indazolo[2',3':1,5]-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]-1,3,5-benzotriazepine) is a novel inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) with antiinflammatory activity in animal models. In the present study, we investigated the effect of this compound on the production of catabolic or antiinflammatory mediators in osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage. In OA cartilage explants, ITB inhibited the production of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas nitrite was partially reduced.

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Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is implicated in the protection against tissue injury. We investigated the expression of this protein in cartilage sections and chondrocytes obtained from osteoarthritic patients. HO-1 was immunodetected in preparations from cartilage and also in chondrocytes cultured in the absence of stimulation.

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