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.

Dose response effects of avian influenza (H7N7) vaccination of chickens: serology, clinical protection and reduction of virus excretion.

Knowledge of the relation between the antigen content of inactivated avian influenza (AI) vaccines, the serological response after vaccination and protection of vaccinated animals is important for the choice of optimal vaccines and vaccination regimes as well as for the assessment of criteria for the licensing of new AI-vaccines. We studied this relation in a dose response study using inactivated H7N7 avian influenza vaccines with varying antigen content. The serological response depended on the antigen content of the vaccines.

Randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic versus open repair of the perforated peptic ulcer: the LAMA Trial.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has become popular during the last decade, mainly because it is associated with fewer postoperative complications than the conventional open approach. It remains unclear, however, if this benefit is observed after laparoscopic correction of perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). The goal of the present study was to evaluate whether laparoscopic closure of a PPU is as safe as conventional open correction.

Bexarotene induces dyslipidemia by increased very low-density lipoprotein production and cholesteryl ester transfer protein-mediated reduction of high-density lipoprotein.

A common dose-limiting side effect of treatment with the retinoid X receptor agonist bexarotene is dyslipidemia. We evaluated the effects of bexarotene on plasma lipid metabolism in patients with metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma and investigated the underlying mechanism(s) in apolipoprotein (APO) E*3-Leiden mice without (E3L) and with human cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP; E3L.CETP).

The use of homologous virus in the haemagglutination-inhibition assay after vaccination with Newcastle disease virus strain La Sota or Clone30 leads to an over estimation of protective serum antibody titres.

We evaluated the influence of the use of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-strains Ulster and La Sota in the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay for the measurement of antibody titres after NDV vaccination. The use of the homologous La Sota antigen in the HI assay after Clone30 and La Sota vaccination of SPF-chickens, resulted in significantly higher titres than the use of the heterologous Ulster virus. The mean difference was 1.

Successful weight loss surgery improves eating control and energy metabolism: a review of the evidence.

Eating behavior is determined by a balance of memories in terms of reward and punishment to satisfy the urge to consume food. Refilling empty energy stores and hedonistic motivation are rewarding aspects of eating. Overfeeding, associated adverse GI effects, and obesity implicate punishment.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and coronary calcification. The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study.

Objectives: Although several studies have recently suggested that lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an independent predictor of coronary events, only one study has examined the association between Lp-PLA2 and coronary calcification, using young adults. We investigated the association between Lp-PLA2 activity and coronary calcification assessed by electron-beam computed tomography (EBT) in a population of older participants.

Methods And Results: The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study is a population-based study in men and women aged >/=55 years.

Soluble Fas, a mediator of apoptosis, C-reactive protein, and coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis. The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study.

Rationale: Findings from laboratory studies strongly suggest a role for apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death, in cardiovascular disease. No population-based study has yet investigated whether serum levels of soluble forms of Fas, a receptor capable of inducing the apoptosis cascade, are associated with coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis.

Methods: Within the Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study, a population-based cohort study, we measured coronary calcification using electron-beam computed tomography, abdominal aortic calcification by abdominal X-ray, carotid plaques and common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonography, and lower extremity atherosclerosis by computation of the ankle-arm index.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and measures of extracoronary atherosclerosis: the Rotterdam Study.

Objective: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) may be a new and independent predictor of cardiovascular events. The effect of Lp-PLA2 may be exerted through effects of the enzyme on the development of atherosclerosis. Therefore, we investigated the association between Lp-PLA2 activity and measures of extracoronary atherosclerosis.

Interleukin 6 -174 g/c promoter polymorphism and risk of coronary heart disease: results from the rotterdam study and a meta-analysis.

Objective: Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Interleukin (IL) 6 has many inflammatory functions, and the IL-6 -174 G/C promoter polymorphism appears to influence IL-6 levels. Findings of previous studies on the relation between this polymorphism and risk of cardiovascular diseases are inconsistent.

Replacement of primary chicken embryonic fibroblasts (CEF) by the DF-1 cell line for detection of avian leucosis viruses.

International regulations prescribe that the absence of avian leucosis viruses (ALV) in avian live virus vaccines has to be demonstrated. Primary chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) from special SPF chicken lines are normally used for detection of ALV. The suitability of the DF-1 cell line for ALV-detection, as alternative for primary CEF, was studied in three types of experiments: (1) in titration experiments without cell passage, (2) in experiments with passages in cell cultures according to European Pharmacopoeia requirements, and (3) in experiments with commercial live avian vaccines that had been spiked with known amounts of ALV.

The association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and coronary calcification. The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study.

Background: An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the gene encoding angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been associated with serum ACE levels. The association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and coronary heart disease is unclear. Electron-beam-computed tomography (EBT) is a technique to non-invasively quantify the amount of coronary calcification.

Coronary calcification improves cardiovascular risk prediction in the elderly.

Background: Coronary calcification detected by electron beam tomography may improve cardiovascular risk prediction. The technique is particularly promising in the elderly because the predictive power of cardiovascular risk factors weakens with age. We investigated the prognostic value of coronary calcification for cardiovascular events and mortality in a general, asymptomatic population of elderly subjects.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity is associated with risk of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke: the Rotterdam Study.

Background: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has been proposed as an inflammatory marker of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, we investigated whether Lp-PLA2 is an independent predictor of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke.

Methods And Results: The Rotterdam Study is a population-based follow-up study in 7983 subjects > or =55 years of age.

Validation study to evaluate the reproducibility of a candidate in vitro potency assay of newcastle disease vaccines and to establish the suitability of a candidate biological reference preparation.

A quantification assay for the Haemagglutinin-Neuraminidase (HN) protein of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) has been developed at CIDC-Lelystad as a candidate in vitro potency test for inactivated Newcastle disease (ND) vaccines. In studies performed at CIDC-Lelystad, a high correlation was demonstrated between the results of this candidate in vitro potency assay and the results of the serological potency assay (European Pharmacopoeia monograph 0870; test A). Furthermore, a high correlation between the serological data (Haemagglutination Inhibition-antibody titres) and clinical protection after challenge was demonstrated.

Alcohol consumption and coronary calcification in a general population.

Background: A U- or J-shaped association exists between alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease. One of the proposed mechanisms for this association involves atherogenesis, but there are no data on the association between alcohol consumption and coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects. Coronary calcification, a measure of coronary atherosclerosis, allows for the study of the association.

Liver and vertebral uptake of Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin (MAA).

An unusual phenomenon during lung scintigraphy is presented. Besides visualization of the lungs, accumulation of Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin (MAA) was seen in a small part of the liver and in and around several thoracic vertebrae. Contrast-enhanced radiographic computed tomography revealed extensive collateral pathways, which were caused by a partially obstructed superior vena cava.

Quantification of infectious bursal disease viral proteins 2 and 3 in inactivated vaccines as an indicator of serological response and measure of potency.

Viral protein 2 and viral protein 3 (VP2 and VP3) were quantified in a series of inactivated infectious bursal disease oil emulsion vaccines using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the dependence of the serological response on vaccine antigen content was studied. Large differences in antigen content, up to 50-fold, were found between vaccines. Neutralizing antibody titres at 3 to 6 weeks after vaccination varied from 3 log2 to 16 log2.

The association of Rose questionnaire angina pectoris and coronary calcification in a general population: the Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study.

Purpose: The Rose questionnaire is a standardized method of measuring angina pectoris in general populations. Electron-beam computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive technique to quantify the amount of coronary calcification. In a population-based study, we investigated the association between Rose questionnaire angina pectoris and coronary calcification.

Estrogen receptor alpha gene polymorphisms and risk of myocardial infarction.

Context: The role of estrogens in ischemic heart disease (IHD) is uncertain. Evidence suggests that genetic variations in the estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene may influence IHD risk, but the role of common sequence variations in the ESR1 gene is unclear.

Objective: To determine whether the ESR1 haplotype created by the c.

Risk factors for coronary calcification in older subjects. The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study.

Aims: We examined associations between cardiovascular risk factors and coronary calcification assessed by electron-beam tomography (EBT) in an unselected population of older subjects.

Methods And Results: The Rotterdam Coronary Calcification Study is a population-based study in subjects > =55 years. Participants underwent EBT scanning.