The in vitro behaviour of canine osteoblasts derived from different bone types.

Background: Our understanding of the biology of osteoblasts is important as they underpin bone remodelling, fracture healing and processes such as osseointegration. Osteoblasts isolated from human humeral samples display distinctive biological activity in vitro, which relates to the samples' bone types (subchondral (S), trabecular (T), cortical (C)). Our aim was to isolate primary osteoblast cultures from different bone types from the proximal femur of a clinical population of dogs presented for total hip replacement and compare the behaviour of the osteoblasts derived from different bone types, to identify a preferred bone type for isolation.

Isolation and Generation of Osteoblasts.

This chapter describes the isolation, culture, and staining of osteoblasts. The key advantages of this assay are that it allows direct measurement of bone matrix deposition and mineralization, as well as yielding good quantities of osteoblasts at defined stages of differentiation for molecular and histological analysis. An additional focus of this chapter will be the culture of osteoblasts from less conventional animal species.

Methotrexate and low-dose prednisolone downregulate osteoclast function by decreasing receptor activator of nuclear factor-κβ expression in monocytes from patients with early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that ultimately leads to bone erosions and joint destruction. Methotrexate (MTX) slows bone damage but the mechanism by which it acts is still unknown. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of MTX and low-dose prednisolone (PDN) on circulating osteoclast (OC) precursors and OC differentiation in patients with RA.

Corrigendum: Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Have Impaired Osteoclast Gene Expression in Circulating Osteoclast Precursors.

[This corrects the article on p. 5 in vol. 4, PMID: 28191455.

Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy on Osteoclasts Precursors in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) increases circulating osteoclast (OC) precursors numbers by promoting their proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of TNF inhibitors (TNFi) on the differentiation and activity of OC in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Have Impaired Osteoclast Gene Expression in Circulating Osteoclast Precursors.

Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is typically characterized by focal bone overgrowth and also by systemic bone loss. We hypothesize that the increased osteoproliferation found in AS might be partially due to reduced ability of osteoclast precursors (OCPs) to differentiate into osteoclasts (OCs). Therefore, our aim was to characterize bone remodeling and pro-osteoclastogenesis inflammatory environment, monocytes' phenotype, and osteoclast differentiation in AS patients.

Osteoclastogenic differentiation of human precursor cells over micro- and nanostructured hydroxyapatite topography.

Background: Surface topography is a key parameter in bone cells-biomaterials interactions. This study analyzed the behavior of human osteoclast precursor cells cultured over three hydroxyapatite (HA) surfaces ranging from a micro- to nanoscale topography.

Methods: HA surfaces were prepared with microsized HA particles, at 1300°C (HA1), and with nanosized HA particles at 1000°C (HA2) and 830°C (HA3).

Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitor Therapy on Osteoclasts Precursors in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Introduction: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is characterized by excessive local bone formation and concomitant systemic bone loss. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a central role in the inflammation of axial skeleton and enthesis of AS patients. Despite reduction of inflammation and systemic bone loss, AS patients treated with TNF inhibitors (TNFi) have ongoing local bone formation.

Pachydermoperiostosis in an African patient caused by a Chinese/Japanese SLCO2A1 mutation-case report and review of literature.

Objectives: Pachydermoperiostosis is a rare clinical entity characterized by skin thickening of the forehead, eyelids, and hands, digital clubbing, and periostosis. Two genes have been associated, HPGD and recently SLCO2A1. We present a detailed clinical and genetic description of an African pachydermoperiostosis patient with a SLCO2A1 mutation.

Rheumatoid arthritis bone fragility is associated with upregulation of IL17 and DKK1 gene expression.

Our aim was to compare bone gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary osteoporosis (OP) patients. Secondary aims were to determine the association of gene expression of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with inflammatory cytokines in the bone microenvironment and to assess the serum levels of Wnt/β-catenin proteins in both groups. RA patients referred for hip replacement surgery were recruited.

Low osteocalcin/collagen type I bone gene expression ratio is associated with hip fragility fractures.

Introduction: Osteocalcin (OC) is the most abundant non-collagenous bone protein and is determinant for bone mineralization. We aimed to compare OC bone expression and serum factors related to its carboxylation in hip fragility fracture and osteoarthritis patients. We also aimed to identify which of these factors were associated with worse mechanical behavior and with the hip fracture event.

Soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio is increased in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have lower bone mineral density and increased fracture risk when compared with healthy individuals, due to distinct factors and mechanisms. Bone remodeling is a tightly orchestrated process dependent on several factors, including the balance between receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). Our aim was to assess serum OPG and soluble RANKL (sRANKL) levels as well as sRANKL/OPG ratio in female SLE patients and compare it with female controls.

Lymphotoxin-α 252 A>G polymorphism: a link between disease susceptibility and dyslipidemia in rheumatoid arthritis?

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with higher levels of inflammatory mediators and with a more atherogenic lipid profile. Dyslipidemia can be present years before arthritis develops. Lymphotoxin-α (LTA) is a cytokine that mediates proinflammatory responses while also participating in lipid homeostasis, and its transcriptional activity is in part genetically determined.

Upregulation of inflammatory genes and downregulation of sclerostin gene expression are key elements in the early phase of fragility fracture healing.

Background: Fracture healing is orchestrated by a specific set of events that culminates in the repair of bone and reachievement of its biomechanical properties. The aim of our work was to study the sequence of gene expression events involved in inflammation and bone remodeling occurring in the early phases of callus formation in osteoporotic patients.

Methodology/principal Findings: Fifty-six patients submitted to hip replacement surgery after a low-energy hip fracture were enrolled in this study.

Cytokine pattern in very early rheumatoid arthritis favours B-cell activation and survival.

Objectives: B cells play an important role in the perpetuation of RA, particularly as autoantibody-producing cells. The ICs that further develop deposit in the joints and aggravate the inflammatory process. However, B-cell contribution in the very early stage of the disease remains unknown.

Identification of a cytokine network sustaining neutrophil and Th17 activation in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by sustained synovitis. Recently, several studies have proposed neutrophils and Th17 cells as key players in the onset and perpetuation of this disease. The main goal of this work was to determine whether cytokines driving neutrophil and Th17 activation are dysregulated in very early rheumatoid arthritis patients with less than 6 weeks of disease duration and before treatment (VERA).

Chronic arthritis leads to disturbances in the bone collagen network.

Introduction: In this study we used a mice model of chronic arthritis to evaluate if bone fragility induced by chronic inflammation is associated with an imbalance in bone turnover and also a disorganization of the bone type I collagen network.

Methods: Serum, vertebrae and femur bones were collected from eight-month-old polyarthritis SKG mice and controls. Strength of the femoral bones was evaluated using three-point bending tests and density was assessed with a pycnometer.

Women's autonomy and scheduled cesarean sections in Brazil: a cautionary tale.

Background: In Brazil, one-fourth of all women deliver in the private sector, where the rate of cesarean deliveries is extremely high (70%). Most (64%) private sector cesareans are scheduled, although many women would have preferred a vaginal delivery. The question this study addresses is whether childbearing women were induced to accept the procedure by their physicians, and if so, how?

Methods: Three face-to-face structured interviews were conducted with 1,612 women (519 private sector and 1,093 public sector) early in pregnancy, approximately 1 month before their due date, and approximately 1 month postpartum.

[Socioeconomic inequalities and premature mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in Brazil].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between some indicators of socioeconomic status and adult mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in Brazil.

Methods: Adult deaths (aged between 35 and 64 years) due to cardiovascular diseases and subgroups of ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular-hypertensive diseases were assessed during the period from 1999 to 2001. Data was obtained from the National Mortality Information System.

[Life expectancy with functional disability in elderly persons in São Paulo, Brazil].

Objective: For persons 60 years of age or older living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in the year 2000 to estimate four characteristics: (1) life expectancy free of functional disability, (2) life expectancy with functional disability, (3) life expectancy with functional disability but without dependence, and (4) life expectancy with functional disability and dependence.

Methods: The estimates of the four characteristics were calculated by means of a life table constructed based on the method proposed by Sullivan. The basic data used for the calculations were the elderly population estimated for the city of São Paulo as of mid-2000, obtained from the demographic censuses of 1991 and 2000, and deaths in the elderly population, obtained from the State Data Analysis System Foundation (Fundação Sistema Estadual de Análise de Dados, or SEADE) of the state of São Paulo.

[Trends in avoidable causes of infant mortality in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 1984 to 1998].

Objective: To analyze the infant mortality trend in a metropolitan area, from 1984 to 1998. The main focus was on avoidable causes of neonatal and post-neonatal mortality.

Methods: Sources of data were the Sistema de Informacoes em Mortalidade do Ministerio da Saude (SIM-MS) [Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health] and Fundacao Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE) [Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics Foundation] (official live birth and death records) for the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, in the State of Minas Gerais.

Frustrated demand for postpartum female sterilization in Brazil.

During the last three decades, Brazilians have relied almost exclusively on two contraceptive methods, the pill and female sterilization, with sterilization use increasing over time. Until a new law was passed in 1997, sterilization was virtually illegal and not covered by either public or private health insurance. It was, however, frequently provided in public and private hospitals in conjunction with a cesarean section.

Unwanted caesarean sections among public and private patients in Brazil: prospective study.

Objective: To assess and compare the preferences of pregnant women in the public and private sector regarding delivery in Brazil.

Design: Face to face structured interviews with women who were interviewed early in pregnancy, about one month before the due date, and about one month post partum.

Setting: Four cities in Brazil.