Cloning and promoter analysis of palladin 90-kDa, 140-kDa, and 200-kDa isoforms involved in skeletal muscle cell maturation.

Objective: Palladin is a ubiquitous phosphoprotein expressed in vertebrate cells that works as a scaffolding protein. Several isoforms deriving from alternative splicing are originated from the palladin gene and involved in mesenchymal and muscle cells formation, maturation, migration, and contraction. Recent studies have linked palladin to the invasive spread of cancer and myogenesis.

[Profile of non-traumatic osteoarticular diseases in elderly black Africans: about 157 cases seen in Abidjan].

Background: The aging of the world population is a phenomenon that is growing progressively. Specific knowledge of osteoarticular disorders in the elderly in black Africa seems limited.

Aim: Describe the epidemiological, clinical and etiological characteristics of non-traumatic osteoarticular disorders in elderly black Africans.

[Cervical pains in Pott's disease: Epidemiological, clinical and radiological aspects concerning 26 cases in Abidjan].

In this study, we report the results of the experience of the Rheumatology Department of Cocody University Hospital in the management of the cervical spinal tuberculosis in Abidjan area. This was a retrospective study of 26 cases collected over a 7 year period (January 2006 to December 2013). The objective of this work was to illustrate the epidemiological, clinical and radiological profile of the cervical localization of tuberculosis in our practice.

[Sub-occipital Pott's disease (C1-C2): about 3 news cases seen in Abidjan].

We report three new cases of sub-occipital Pott disease (C1-C2) seen at the University Hospital of Cocody (Abidjan) with their clinical features. In the first case, the mode of revelation was original and unique: an incomplete Brown-Séquard syndrome. The second case provided warning about the dangers of self-medication and untimely antibiotic usage.

[Lumbar nerve root pain with fever in tropical area: posterior spinal tuberculosis].

The purpose of this report is to describe the case of tuberculosis osteitis of the posterior vertebral arch in a 35-year-old man with recent history of pulmonary tuberculosis. Clinical findings were pain due to bilateral inflammation of the lumbar nerve roots, fistulised cold abcess and motor deficit in both lower extremities. The tomodensitometry demonstrated a lytic bone lesion involving the spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra in association with spondylitis and a large paravertebral abscess with calcification typical of tuberculosis.

Epidemiology and features of knee osteoarthritis in the Ivory Coast.

We retrospectively studied 369 cases of knee osteoarthritis in 240 patients seen at the Cocody Teaching Hospital in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, from November 1984 through March 1989. There were 126 cases (34.14%) of patellofemoral osteoarthritis, 104 cases (28.