Clinical Guidance to Optimize Work Participation After Injury or Illness: The Role of Physical Therapists.

Work rehabilitation refers to the process of assisting workers to remain at work or return to work (RTW) in a safe and productive manner, while limiting the negative impact of restricted work, unemployment, and work disability. The primary purpose of this clinical practice guideline (CPG) is to systematically review available scientific evidence and provide a set of evidence-based recommendations for effective physical therapy evaluation, treatment, and management of individuals experiencing limitations in the ability to participate in work following injury or illness. .

Elastolytic activity of cysteine cathepsins K, S, and V promotes vascular calcification.

Elastin plays an important role in maintaining blood vessel integrity. Proteolytic degradation of elastin in the vascular system promotes the development of atherosclerosis, including blood vessel calcification. Cysteine cathepsins have been implicated in this process, however, their role in disease progression and associated complications remains unclear.

Changes in Structural-Mechanical Properties and Degradability of Collagen during Aging-associated Modifications.

During aging, changes occur in the collagen network that contribute to various pathological phenotypes in the skeletal, vascular, and pulmonary systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of age-related modifications on the mechanical stability and in vitro proteolytic degradation of type I collagen. Analyzing mouse tail and bovine bone collagen, we found that collagen at both fibril and fiber levels varies in rigidity and Young's modulus due to different physiological changes, which correlate with changes in cathepsin K (CatK)-mediated degradation.

BMP-9 regulates the osteoblastic differentiation and calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells through an ALK1 mediated pathway.

The process of vascular calcification shares many similarities with that of physiological skeletal mineralization, and involves the deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals in arteries. However, the cellular mechanisms responsible have yet to be fully explained. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-9) has been shown to exert direct effects on both bone development and vascular function.

Upregulation of IGF2 expression during vascular calcification.

The process of vascular calcification shares many similarities with that of skeletal mineralisation and involves the deposition of hydroxyapatite crystals in arteries and cardiac valves. However, the cellular mechanisms responsible have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we employed microarray analysis to demonstrate the upregulation of more than >9000 genes during the calcification of murine vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), of which the most significantly, differentially expressed gene was Igf2.

Allergic reaction to a red plastic allergy alert patient identification bracelet: implications for surgical patient safety.

We present a case of allergy to a hospital thermally-printed red plastic allergy alert bracelet in a 48 year old lady admitted to the day surgery unit. Two hours postoperatively, an intensely itchy area of erythema and oedema was seen extending from her left wrist distally to the fingers. The bracelet was removed and the rash resolved overnight without further complication.

A protective role for FGF-23 in local defence against disrupted arterial wall integrity?

Increasing interest is focusing on the role of the FGF-23/Klotho axis in mediating vascular calcification. However, the underpinning mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. Murine VSMCs were cultured in calcifying medium for a 21 d period.

Mechanisms and clinical consequences of vascular calcification.

Vascular calcification has severe clinical consequences and is considered an accurate predictor of future adverse cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke. Previously vascular calcification was thought to be a passive process which involved the deposition of calcium and phosphate in arteries and cardiac valves. However, recent studies have shown that vascular calcification is a highly regulated, cell-mediated process similar to bone formation.

Relative abundance of American badger (Taxidea taxus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in landscapes with high and low rodenticide poisoning levels.

Over the past decade, extensive poisoning campaigns have been conducted in southern Saskatchewan to control Richardson's ground squirrel Spermophilus richardsonii (Sabine, 1822) populations. Such campaigns might impact on predator abundance by decreasing prey levels, and also through secondary poisoning. Using spotlighting, we investigated the relative abundance of American badgers Taxidea taxus (Schreber, 1777) and red fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) in 2 study areas with road access and crops, but with different levels of poisoning.

Altered bone development and an increase in FGF-23 expression in Enpp1(-/-) mice.

Nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1) is required for the conversion of extracellular ATP into inorganic pyrophosphate (PP(i)), a recognised inhibitor of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystal formation. A detailed phenotypic assessment of a mouse model lacking NPP1 (Enpp1(-/-)) was completed to determine the role of NPP1 in skeletal and soft tissue mineralization in juvenile and adult mice. Histopathological assessment of Enpp1(-/-) mice at 22 weeks of age revealed calcification in the aorta and kidney and ectopic cartilage formation in the joints and spine.

The appearance and modulation of osteocyte marker expression during calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Background: Vascular calcification is an indicator of elevated cardiovascular risk. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the predominant cell type involved in medial vascular calcification, can undergo phenotypic transition to both osteoblastic and chondrocytic cells within a calcifying environment.

Methodology/principal Findings: In the present study, using in vitro VSMC calcification studies in conjunction with ex vivo analyses of a mouse model of medial calcification, we show that vascular calcification is also associated with the expression of osteocyte phenotype markers.

Evaluation of RNA-knockdown strategies for modulation of cytochrome P450 reductase activity in mouse hepatocytes.

Transgenic technologies can provide important animal models for studying drug-metabolizing enzymes. Our overall aim was to generate versatile cell and animal systems that exhibited varying levels of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) activity, more accurately modelling the human population for pharmacological and toxicology studies. Towards this goal we evaluated RNA-interference constructs designed for use in vitro and in vivo for reducing POR activity in hepatocytes.

A summary of trauma and trauma-related papers published in BJOMS during 2008-2009.

This paper provides a summary of the 49 trauma and related papers published in British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery during the period January 2008 to December 2009. 16/49 (32%) of these publications were full length articles, which covered areas such as epidemiology, service provision, materials and operative surgery. In addition there were other articles including short communications, technical notes, letters to the editor and interesting cases.

Prospective randomized clinical trial of the effect of needle size on pain, sample adequacy and accuracy in head and neck fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is useful in the diagnosis of many conditions of the head and neck. No reported studies have investigated the optimal needle gauge in the head and neck region.

Methods: This was a prospective randomized trial of 100 patients who required FNAC performed with either a 21G or 23G needle.