Mutations in osteoprotegerin account for the CCAL1 locus in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease.

Objective: Mutations on chromosomes 5p (CCAL2) and 8q (CCAL1) have been linked to familial forms of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD). Mutations in the ANKH gene account for CCAL2, but the identity of CCAL1 has been elusive. Recently, a single Dutch kindred with a mutation in the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Super Family member 11B (TNFRSF11B) gene coding for osteoprotegerin (OPG) was described as a gain-of-function mutation.

Development and Validation of the Spanish Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument.

Background: The Spanish-speaking population in the U.S. is large and growing and is known to have lower health literacy than the English-speaking population.

The Role of ANK in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease.

The protein product of the progressive ankylosis gene, known as ANK, is a 492-amino acid multi-pass transmembrane protein. This protein is critical for the regulation of pyrophosphate, and gain of function ANK mutations is associated with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease. Much about the structure, function, and regulation of ANK remain unstudied.

Imaging of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease.

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) is a common and clinically heterogeneous form of arthritis caused by the deposition of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals in articular tissues. The diagnosis of CPPD is supported by the presence of radiographic chondrocalcinosis; yet, conventional radiography detects only about 40 % of clinically important CPPD. Here, we critically review the recent literature on imaging in CPPD.

Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression Is Only Partially Mediated by the preBötzinger Complex in Young and Adult Rabbits In Vivo.

Background: The preBötzinger Complex (preBC) plays an important role in respiratory rhythm generation. This study was designed to determine whether the preBC mediated opioid-induced respiratory rate depression at clinically relevant opioid concentrations in vivo and whether this role was age dependent.

Methods: Studies were performed in 22 young and 32 adult New Zealand White rabbits.

Clodronate exerts an anabolic effect on articular chondrocytes mediated through the purinergic receptor pathway.

Objective: Bisphosphonates are commonly used anti-osteoporotic drugs which have controversial effects on joint diseases including osteoarthritis. Certain bisphosphonates have been shown to have anabolic effects on cartilage which could have important ramifications for their proposed effects in vivo; however, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Thus, the purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of clodronate on primary articular chondrocyte metabolism and to determine the underlying signaling pathways responsible.

Crystals, inflammation, and osteoarthritis.

Purpose Of Review: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) and basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals are common components of osteoarthritic joint fluids and tissues. Why these crystals form and how they contribute to joint damage in osteoarthritis remain unclear. With renewed interest in inflammation as a key component of osteoarthritis the role of calcium-containing crystals in this common disease warrants re-examination.

Feasibility of a tetracycline-binding method for detecting synovial fluid basic calcium phosphate crystals.

Objective: Basic calcium phosphate (BCP) crystals are common components of osteoarthritis (OA) synovial fluid. Progress in understanding the role of these bioactive particles in clinical OA has been hampered by difficulties in their identification. Tetracyclines stain calcium phosphate mineral in bone.

Osteopontin promotes pathologic mineralization in articular cartilage.

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystals are commonly found in osteoarthritic joint tissues, where they predict severe disease. Unlike other types of calcium phosphate crystals, CPPD crystals form almost exclusively in the pericellular matrix of damaged articular cartilage, suggesting a key role for the extracellular matrix milieu in their development. Osteopontin is a matricellular protein found in increased quantities in the pericellular matrix of osteoarthritic cartilage.

Extracellular matrix changes regulate calcium crystal formation in articular cartilage.

Purpose Of Review: The pathologic matrix mineralization seen in calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate and basic calcium phosphate deposition diseases identifies a subset of osteoarthritis patients with an unusual joint distribution and rapid progression of disease. Several factors contribute to pathologic matrix mineralization, including changes in the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage. The factors contributing to extracellular matrix changes that promote crystal formation are important and not well understood.

Sexuality in the nursing home, part 2: managing abnormal behavior--legal and ethical issues.

Everyone, regardless of age, needs love, touch, companionship, and intimacy. The 1.6 million elderly in the 20,000 U.

Sexuality in the nursing home, part 2: Managing abnormal behavior-legal and ethical issues.

Everyone, regardless of age, needs love, touch, companionship, and intimacy. The 1.6 million elderly in the 20,000 U.

N-acetylcysteine restores isoflurane-induced preconditioning against myocardial infarction during hyperglycemia.

Background: Hyperglycemia generates reactive oxygen species and prevents isoflurane-induced preconditioning. The authors tested the hypothesis that scavenging reactive oxygen species with N-acetylcysteine will restore protection against myocardial infarction produced by isoflurane in vivo.

Methods: Barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 45) were instrumented for measurement of systemic hemodynamics.

Halothane depresses glutamatergic neurotransmission to brain stem inspiratory premotor neurons in a decerebrate dog model.

Background: Inspiratory bulbospinal neurons in the caudal ventral medulla are premotor neurons that drive phrenic motoneurons and ultimately the diaphragm. Excitatory drive to these neurons is mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptors and modulated by an inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A))ergic input. The authors investigated the effect of halothane on these synaptic mechanisms in decerebrate dogs.

Increases in coronary collateral blood flow produced by sevoflurane are mediated by calcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channels in vivo.

Background: Sevoflurane enhances coronary collateral blood flow independent of adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium channels. The authors tested the hypothesis that this volatile anesthetic increases coronary collateral blood flow by either opening calcium-activated potassium channels or by directly stimulating nitric oxide synthesis in the canine coronary collateral circulation.

Methods: Twelve weeks after left anterior descending coronary artery ameroid constrictor implantation, barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 22) were instrumented for measurement of hemodynamics and retrograde coronary flow.

Is isoflurane-induced preconditioning dose related?

Background: Volatile anesthetics precondition against myocardial infarction, but it is unknown whether this beneficial action is threshold- or dose-dependent. The authors tested the hypothesis that isoflurane decreases myocardial infarct size in a dose-dependent fashion in vivo.

Methods: Barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 40) were instrumented for measurement of systemic hemodynamics including aortic and left ventricular pressures and rate of increase of left ventricular pressure.

Identification of crystals in synovial fluids and joint tissues.

The identification of crystals in synovial fluids and joint tissues is the most rapid and accurate method of diagnosing the common forms of crystal-associated arthritis. Although there are numerous methods available for identifying and characterizing crystals in biologic specimens including x-ray crystallography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, in practice, polarizing light microscopy is used almost exclusively for articular crystals. Unfortunately, problems with reliability and reproducibility undercut the usefulness of this simple procedure.

Sevoflurane reduces myocardial infarct size and decreases the time threshold for ischemic preconditioning in dogs.

Background: Recent evidence indicates that volatile anesthetics exert protective effects during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. The authors tested the hypothesis that sevoflurane decreases myocardial infarct size by activating adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels and reduces the time threshold of ischemic preconditioning necessary to protect against infarction.

Methods: Barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 75) were instrumented for measurement of aortic and left ventricular pressures and maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure and were subjected to a 60-min left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery occlusion followed by 3-h reperfusion.

Isoflurane-enhanced recovery of canine stunned myocardium: role for protein kinase C?

Background: Isoflurane enhances the functional recovery of postischemic, reperfused myocardium by activating adenosine A1 receptors and adenosine triphosphate-regulated potassium channels. Whether protein kinase C is involved in this process is unknown. The authors tested the hypothesis that inhibition of protein kinase C, using the selective antagonist bisindolylmaleimide, attenuates isoflurane-enhanced recovery of stunned myocardium in dogs.

Unsedated transnasal EGD: an alternative approach to conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy for documenting Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the yield of antral biopsies performed via unsedated transnasal esophagogastroduodenoscopy, a technique that does not require conscious sedation with its concomitant costs and complications, for documentation of Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Methods: Nineteen patients who were previously CLO test positive on conventional esophagogastroduodenoscopy and subsequently treated for H pylori infection were enrolled. The subjects had not received antibiotic therapy in the prior month and had no prior gastric surgery.

Thyroid hormones induce features of the hypertrophic phenotype and stimulate correlates of CPPD crystal formation in articular chondrocytes.

Objective: Articular cartilage affected by calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition contains abnormal chondrocytes with morphologic similarities to the terminally differentiated hypertrophic chondrocytes that mineralize in growth plate cartilage. These chondrocytes also elaborate high levels of extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), an essential component of the CPPD crystal. Several factors that stimulate articular chondrocyte PPi elaboration also induce terminal differentiation in growth plate chondrocytes.

Cigarette smoke impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation in rabbit superficial femoral veins.

Background: The use of autogenous vein for arterial reconstruction provides the optimal conduit for limb salvage. Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for vascular disease and may adversely affect graft patency and limb preservation rates of extremities reconstructed with autogenous vein. This study was performed in order to determine the effects of cigarette smoke on venous endothelium-dependent relaxation which is mediated by nitric oxide.

Cardiovascular effects of xenon in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Clinical interest in xenon has been rekindled recently by new recycling systems that have decreased its relative cost. The cardiovascular effects of xenon were examined in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs before and after the development of rapid left ventricular (LV) pacing-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Dogs (n = 10) were chronically instrumented to measure aortic and LV pressure, LV subendocardial segment length, and aortic blood flow.

Transglutaminase activity in aging articular chondrocytes and articular cartilage vesicles.

Objective: Transglutaminases (TGases) (E.C. 2.