Bone Health in People Living with HIV/AIDS: An Update of Where We Are and Potential Future Strategies.

The developments in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) treatment and in the care of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) over the last three decades has led to a significant increase in life expectancy, on par with HIV-negative individuals. Aside from the fact that bone fractures tend to occur 10 years earlier than in HIV-negative individuals, HIV is, per se, an independent risk factor for bone fractures. A few available antiretroviral therapies (ARVs) are also linked with osteoporosis, particularly those involving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

Musculoskeletal tuberculosis with multifocal muscle abscesses in a healthy young adult.

Musculoskeletal tuberculosis represents 1% of total tuberculosis cases. It affects young adults from endemic countries or immunocompromised patients, and may lead to severe functional impairment. We report a case of a 27-year-old male from an endemic country presenting with a 4-month history of fever, a major pectoralis abscess, and low back pain.

Subclinical atherosclerosis profiles in rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren's syndrome: the impact of BAFF genetic variations.

Objectives: RA and primary SS carry increased atherosclerotic risk, while B-cell activating factor holds a vital role in disease pathogenesis and atherosclerosis. We aimed to compare subclinical atherosclerosis profiles between the two clinical entities and define whether BAFF genetic variants alter atherosclerotic risk.

Methods: DNA from 166 RA, 148 primary SS patients and 200 healthy controls of similar age and sex distribution was subjected to PCR-based assay for the detection of five single nucleotide polymorphisms of the BAFF gene (rs1224141, rs12583006, rs9514828, rs1041569 and rs9514827).

Osteoprotegerin and MTHFR gene variations in rheumatoid arthritis: association with disease susceptibility and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis.

We aimed to explore whether the rs2073618 variant (G1181C) of the osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) rs1801131 (A1298AC) and rs1801133 (C677T) gene polymorphisms contribute to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility and RA related subclinical atherosclerosis. Overall 283 RA patients and 595 healthy controls (HC) were genotyped for common variants of the OPG and MTHFR genes using PCR based assays. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded following thorough chart review.

Subclinical atherosclerosis and impaired bone health in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome: prevalence, clinical and laboratory associations.

Introduction: To determine the prevalence and clinical/laboratory associations of subclinical atherosclerosis and impaired bone health in primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: 64 consecutive patients with primary SS, 77 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 60 healthy controls (HC) οf similar age and sex distribution were enrolled. Demographics, clinical/laboratory features, classical risk factors for atherosclerosis and osteoporosis (OP) were recorded.

Molecular supertetrahedron decorated with exposed sulfonate groups built from mixed-valence tetranuclear Fe3(3+)Fe(2+)(mu3-Omicron)(mu3-SO4)3(-CO2)3 clusters.

We present the synthesis and characterization of a novel metal-organic molecular solid using the ligand 4,8-disulfonaphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid. The solid features a sulfonated, isolated supertetrahedra, [Fe(16)Omicron(4)(SO(4))(12)(L2)(6)], built from mixed-valence [Fe(3)(3+)Fe(2+)(mu(3)-Omicron)(mu(3)-SO(4))(3)(-CO(2))(3)] clusters.

Study of phospho-beta-catenin subcellular distribution in invasive breast carcinomas in relation to their phenotype and the clinical outcome.

Beta-catenin has a crucial role in cell-cell adhesion as well as a signaling role as a member of the Wnt pathway. The aim of this study was to examine the clinicopathological and prognostic value of phosphorylated beta-catenin, as well as its relation to the tumors' phenotype, in breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry was applied on 141 paraffin-embedded breast tissue specimens for the detection of phospho-beta-catenin, ER, PR, c-erbB-2, p53, Ki-67, bcl-2, uPAR and TIMP-1.