Plasma Cartilage Acidic Protein 1 Measured by ELISA Is Associated With the Progression to Total Joint Replacement in Postmenopausal Women.

Objective: To investigate the association of plasma cartilage acidic protein 1 (CRTAC1), a novel biochemical marker of osteoarthritis (OA), and total joint replacement (TJR) in postmenopausal women.

Methods: The association of plasma CRTAC1 with the incidence of TJR was investigated in a prospective cohort including 478 postmenopausal women. A total of 38 women underwent a TJR for OA during a median follow-up of 18 years.

A new serum biochemical marker of synovium turnover predicts radiographic progression in patients with early arthritis.

Objective: To investigate whether serum Col 3-4, a new biochemical marker of synovial tissue turnover, was associated with progression of joint damage in patients with early arthritis.

Methods: A total of 788 early arthritis patients (<6 months of symptoms, 82% diagnosis of RA, 18% undifferentiated arthritis) from the prospective ESPOIR study were investigated. Progression was defined as an increase of 1 or 5 unit(s) in radiographic van der Heijde modified Sharp score between baseline and 1 or 5 years, respectively.

Serum Col3-4: A new type III and IV collagen biochemical marker of synovial tissue turnover in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The objective of this study was to develop a serum biochemical marker of the degradation of type III and IV collagens, as an index of synovium turnover, and evaluate its performance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serum synovial collagen fragments (Col3-4) was developed using an antibody recognizing a specific sequence from human type III collagen, which shares 70% homology with type IV collagen. Immunohistochemistry was performed to localize Col3-4 and the matrix metalloprotease MMP-9 which is upregulated in RA synovial fibroblasts in the synovial tissue from a RA patient.

Multi-biomarker Assessment in a Native Species Psalidodon eigenmanniorum Under Inorganic Mercury and Recovery Scenarios.

The increasing contamination of water bodies with mercury raises concerns about its possible effects on aquatic organisms. The combined use of several biomarkers allows researchers to study the impact of a chemical at different levels of biological organization. In the present work, we determined the response of histological (gills and liver), somatic (condition factor and hepato-somatic index), and behavioral (predator-prey relationship, through the presentation of a computer-animated image) biomarkers in the native species Psalidodon eigenmanniorum exposed to 100 µg L of inorganic Hg (IHg) during 96 h.

Soluble biological markers in osteoarthritis.

In recent years, markers research has focused on the structural components of cartilage matrix. Specifically, a second generation of degradation markers has been developed against type II collagen neoepitopes generated by specific enzymes. A particular effort has been made to measure the degradation of minor collagens III and X of the cartilage matrix.

Uptake, tissue distribution and elimination in a native fish species Astyanax eigenmanniorum exposed to inorganic mercury.

The increasing contamination of water bodies with mercury (Hg) raises concerns about the possible effects of this metal on native fish species. Our current understanding of its dynamics in fish organs remains limited. In this study, adult individuals of the native species Astyanax eigenmanniorum were exposed to three environmentally relevant HgCl concentrations (5, 100, and 170 μg L) for 96 h.

Trace element concentrations in six fish species from freshwater lentic environments and evaluation of possible health risks according to international standards of consumption.

Multi-element concentrations (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and Sr) were analyzed in the muscle of six fish species (Hoplias malabaricus, Oligosarcus jenynsii, Rhamdia quelen, Bryconamericus iheringii, Astyanax fasciatus, and Odontesthes bonariensis) with different diets and habits from the Río Tercero Reservoir (RTR) in Córdoba, Argentina, during the wet and dry seasons. Besides, potential human health risks, associated with the consumption of these elements, have been assessed considering the average daily intake (EDI) in children and adults. Additionally, the target hazard quotient (THQ) and carcinogenic risk (CR) were evaluated taking into account the intake by the general population, fishermen, and consumption frequency recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum scientific reference in cardiology in the USA and worldwide.

The role of biochemical markers of joint tissue remodelling to predict progression and treatment efficacy in inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Structural damage is a hallmark in RA, spondyloarthropy (SpA) and psoriatric arthritis (PsA). Its progression is difficult to predict and current radiological or inflammatory biological markers lack sensitivity. Biochemical markers of bone, cartilage and synovial tissues provide a dynamic indication of the anabolism and catabolism of joint tissues and can be easily measured by immunoassays.

The cartilage degradation marker, urinary CTX-II, is associated with the risk of incident total joint replacement in postmenopausal women. A 18 year evaluation of the OFELY prospective cohort.

Objective: Identifying objective risk-indicators for total joint replacement (TJR) is useful to enrich population at high risk in OA clinical trials. We investigate the association of urinary CTX-II, a biochemical marker of cartilage breakdown, with the risk of TJR.

Method: 478 postmenopausal women (mean age 65.

Specific Effects of Anorexia Nervosa and Obesity on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover in Young Women.

Objective: The threefold aim was to (1) compare areal bone mineral density (aBMD), bone turnover markers, and periostin levels in young women with either anorexia nervosa (AN) or obesity (OB) and controls (CON); (2) model the profiles according to age; and (3) determine the parameters associated with aBMD.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred and fifty-two young women with ages ranging from 16.0 to 27.

Periostin and sclerostin levels in individuals with spinal cord injury and their relationship with bone mass, bone turnover, fracture and osteoporosis status.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces an acute alteration in bone metabolism. Although the aetiology of the bone disturbances is not precisely known, immobilisation reduces mechanical loading and the morphology of osteocytes, which are the primary mechanosensors. Periostin and sclerostin are secreted mostly by osteocytes and are involved in bone's mechanical response.

Developing a toolkit for the assessment and monitoring of musculoskeletal ageing.

The complexities and heterogeneity of the ageing process have slowed the development of consensus on appropriate biomarkers of healthy ageing. The Medical Research Council-Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA) is a collaboration between researchers and clinicians at the Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle. One of CIMA's objectives is to 'Identify and share optimal techniques and approaches to monitor age-related changes in all musculoskeletal tissues, and to provide an integrated assessment of musculoskeletal function'-in other words to develop a toolkit for assessing musculoskeletal ageing.

Assessment of exposure to metals, As and Se in water and sediment of a freshwater reservoir and their bioaccumulation in fish species of different feeding and habitat preferences.

The concentrations of metals (Ag, Al, Ba, B, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Tl, U, V, Zn), As and Se were analyzed in water and sediments from three sites of Río Tercero Reservoir (Córdoba, Argentina) during the wet and the dry season. The dynamics of metals in six fish species (Hoplias malabaricus, Oligosarcus jenynsii, Rhamdia quelen, Bryconamericus iheringii, Astyanax fasciatus and Odontesthes bonariensis) from the reservoir were investigated to discover the possible differential influence of habitat and diet on metal accumulation in the fish. In the abiotic matrix, the highest heavy metal concentrations were observed in sediment.

The C-Terminal Intact Forms of Periostin (iPTN) Are Surrogate Markers for Osteolytic Lesions in Experimental Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis.

Periostin is an extracellular matrix protein that actively contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. Here, we hypothesized that it could be a marker of bone metastasis formation. To address this question, we used two polyclonal antibodies directed against the whole molecule or its C-terminal domain to explore the expression of intact and truncated forms of periostin in the serum and tissues (lung, heart, bone) of wild-type and periostin-deficient mice.

Serum Levels of a Cathepsin-K Generated Periostin Fragment Predict Incident Low-Trauma Fractures in Postmenopausal Women Independently of BMD and FRAX.

Periostin is a matricellular protein involved in bone formation and bone matrix organization, but it is also produced by other tissues. Its circulating levels have been weakly associated with bone microstructure and prevalent fractures, possibly because periostin measured by the current commercial assays does not specifically reflect bone metabolism. In this context, we developed a new ELISA for a periostin fragment resulting from cathepsin K digestion (K-Postn).

Development of a New Immunoassay for Human Cathepsin K-Generated Periostin Fragments as a Serum Biomarker for Cortical Bone.

Periostin is a matricellular protein mainly expressed by periosteal cells and osteocytes in bone, but is also present in several other tissues. Available immunoassays use antibodies of unclear specificity. The aim of the study was to develop a bone-specific periostin ELISA based on the detection of fragments generated by the osteoclastic and osteocytic protease cathepsin K.

The Utility of Biomarkers in Osteoporosis Management.

The measurement of bone turnover markers is useful for the clinical investigation of patients with osteoporosis. Among the available biochemical markers, the measurements of serum procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP) and the crosslinked C-terminal telopeptide (serum CTX) have been recommended as reference markers of bone formation and bone resorption, respectively. The important sources of preanalytical and analytical variability have been identified for both markers, and precise measurement can now be obtained.

Potential human health risks from metals and As via Odontesthes bonariensis consumption and ecological risk assessments in a eutrophic lake.

The concentration of Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Pb and As was analyzed in water, sediment, and muscle of Odontesthes bonariensis from the eutrophic San Roque Lake (Córdoba-Argentina). The monitoring campaign was performed during the wet, dry and intermediate season. The concentration of Cr, Fe, Pb, Zn, Al and Cd in water exceeded the limits considered as hazardous for aquatic life.

Periostin action in bone.

Periostin is a highly conserved matricellular protein that shares close homology with the insect cell adhesion molecule fasciclin 1. Periostin is expressed in a broad range of tissues including the skeleton, where it serves both as a structural molecule of the bone matrix and a signaling molecule through integrin receptors and Wnt-beta-catenin pathways whereby it stimulates osteoblast functions and bone formation. The development of periostin null mice has allowed to elucidate the crucial role of periostin on dentinogenesis and osteogenesis, as well as on the skeletal response to mechanical loading and parathyroid hormone.

Are Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover Representative of Bone Histomorphometry in 370 Postmenopausal Women?

Context: The levels of bone formation and resorption can be assessed at the tissue level by bone histomorphometry on transiliac bone biopsies. Systemic biochemical markers of bone turnover reflect the overall bone formation and resorption at the level of the entire skeleton but cannot discriminate the different skeletal compartments.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the correlations between the serum biochemical markers of formation and resorption with histomorphometric parameters.

Serum periostin is associated with prevalent knee osteoarthritis and disease incidence/progression in women: the OFELY study.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the relationships between serum periostin (POSTN) and both prevalence and incidence/progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in women.

Methods: We investigated 594 women (62.7 ± 11.