The effect of osteoporosis treatment on bone mass.

Over the last two decades there have been significant developments in the pharmacotherapy of osteoporosis. The therapeutic arsenal has expanded with monoclonal antibodies which have been developed based on discoveries of the molecular mechanisms underlying bone resorption and bone formation. Denosumab, the antibody binding RANKL, inhibits bone resorption, and romosozumab, the antibody binding sclerostin, inhibits bone resorption and stimulates bone formation as well.

[Osteoporotic vertebral fractures or Scheuermann's disease?].

A 56-year-old man was treated with bisphosphonates following incidental findings of vertebral deformities on a chest radiograph taken for cough. After re-evaluation with DEXA and spinal radiographs he was diagnosed with Scheuermann's disease, not osteoporosis. His gastrointestinal symptoms resolved after bisphosphonates were stopped.

The quantitative ELISA for inactivated Newcastle disease virus antigen: development of the test system and the way to a Ph. Eur in vitro potency test.

The development of an alternative in vitro potency test required experimental studies, which were performed in-house and in collaboration with other laboratories (Official Medicines Control Laboratories, Manufacturers), coordinated by EDQM (European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare). This paper provides background information concerning the development of the quantitative ELISA for inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antigen, which was added in the European Pharmacopoeia monograph as an in vitro batch potency test.

Urine VCAM-1 as a marker of renal pathology activity index in lupus nephritis.

Introduction: Although renal pathology is highly predictive of the disease course in lupus nephritis, it cannot be performed serially because of its invasive nature and associated morbidity. The goal of this study is to investigate whether urinary levels of CXC ligand 16 (CXCL16), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) or vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in patients with lupus nephritis are predictive of particular features of renal pathology in renal biopsies obtained on the day of urine procurement.

Methods: CXCL16, MCP-1, and VCAM-1 levels were measured in urine samples from 74 lupus nephritis patients and 13 healthy volunteers.

High rates of stopping or switching biological medications in veterans with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To define the characteristics of a population of veterans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have stopped or switched their first biologic agent, and to assess if measures of disease activity are predictors in the decision to alter the regimen.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the VA electronic medical record system identified RA patient demographic and disease activity parameters from 1999 to 2007. Demographic data included age, race/ethnicity, sex, and tobacco use.