Association of higher levels of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and N-telopeptide crosslinks with the development of radiographic hip osteoarthritis in elderly women

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of baseline concentrations of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and serum N-telopeptide crosslinks (NTX) with the development and progression of radiographic hip osteoarthritis (RHOA) in elderly women.

METHODS

Pelvic radiographs were obtained a mean of 8.3 years apart from white women > or =65 years of age enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Random sampling from a cohort of 5,928 subjects was performed, with subjects ( approximately 200 per group) assigned to nested case-control studies, one focusing on RHOA incidence and the other on RHOA progression. Baseline serum levels of COMP and NTX were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in duplicate. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), indicating the likelihood of baseline serum COMP and NTX levels to be predictive of the development or progression of RHOA, were calculated using logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for potential covariates.

RESULTS

At baseline, incident cases of RHOA were associated with higher serum levels of COMP and NTX (P < 0.05 for each) compared with the no RHOA control group. Higher baseline serum COMP and NTX levels were associated with an increased risk of incident RHOA compared with the no RHOA group, with an adjusted OR of 1.31 per SD increase in COMP (95% CI 1.02-1.68) and adjusted OR of 1.38 per SD increase in NTX (95% CI 1.07-1.79). In this community-based cohort, progression of RHOA was modest. However, there was a trend toward increased risk of RHOA progression with higher baseline COMP and NTX levels.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that serum levels of COMP and NTX are modest risk markers for the development of RHOA in a community-based cohort of elderly white women.

Concentration and detection of SARS coronavirus in sewage from Xiao Tang Shan Hospital and the 309th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army

A worldwide outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had been reported. Over 8439 SARS cases and 812 SARS-related deaths were reported to the World Health Organization from 32 countries around the world up to 5 July 2003. The mechanism of transmission of SARS-CoV has been limited only to close contacts with patients. Attention was focused on possible transmission by the sewage system because laboratory studies showed that patients excreted coronavirus RNA in their stools in Amoy Gardens in Hong Kong. To explore whether the stool of SARS patients or the sewage containing the stool of patients would transmit SARS-CoV or not, we used a style of electropositive filter media particle to concentrate the SARS-CoV from the sewage of two hospitals receiving SARS patients in Beijing, as well as cell culture, semi-nested RT-PCR and sequencing of genes to detect and identify the viruses from sewage. There was no live SARS-CoV detected in the sewage in these assays. The nucleic acid of SARS-CoV was found in the sewage before disinfection from both hospitals by PCR. After disinfection, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected from some samples from the 309th Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, but not from Xiao Tang Shan Hospital after disinfection. In this study, we found that the virus can survive for 14 days in sewage at 4 degrees C, 2 days at 20 degrees C, and its RNA can be detected for 8 days though the virus had been inactivated. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the RNA of SARS-CoV could be detected from the concentrates of sewage of both hospitals receiving SARS patients before disinfection and occasionally after disinfection though there was no live SARS-CoV; thus much attention should be paid to the treatment of stools of patients and the sewage of hospitals receiving SARS patients.

Coalescence of viscous liquid drops

We report on studies of the early stage of coalescence of two liquid drops. The drops were high viscosity silicon oil immersed in a water-alcohol mixture of the same density in order to eliminate the effects of gravity. The viscosity was sufficiently large that measurements could be made under the conditions of Stokes flow. Measurements were made of the radius of the neck between the drops as a function of the time from the onset of coalescence, and the results compared with theoretical predictions.

Magnetic levitation-based Martian and Lunar gravity simulator

Missions to Mars will subject living specimens to a range of low gravity environments. Deleterious biological effects of prolonged exposure to Martian gravity (0.38 g), Lunar gravity (0.17 g), and microgravity are expected, but the mechanisms involved and potential for remedies are unknown. We are proposing the development of a facility that provides a simulated Martian and Lunar gravity environment for experiments on biological systems in a well controlled laboratory setting. The magnetic adjustable gravity simulator will employ intense, inhomogeneous magnetic fields to exert magnetic body forces on a specimen that oppose the body force of gravity. By adjusting the magnetic field, it is possible to continuously adjust the total body force acting on a specimen. The simulator system considered consists of a superconducting solenoid with a room temperature bore sufficiently large to accommodate small whole organisms, cell cultures, and gravity sensitive bio-molecular solutions. It will have good optical access so that the organisms can be viewed in situ. This facility will be valuable for experimental observations and public demonstrations of systems in simulated reduced gravity.

Search for doubly charged Higgs bosons decaying to dileptons in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV

We present the results of a search for doubly charged Higgs bosons (H+/-+/-) decaying to dileptons (ll(')) using approximately 240 pb(-1) of pp collision data collected by the CDF II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. In our search region, given by same-sign ll(') mass m(ll('))>80 GeV/c(2) (100 GeV/c(2) for ee channel), we observe no evidence for H+/-+/- production. We set limits on sigma(pp -->H++H---->l(+)l('+)l(-)l('-)) as a function of the mass of the H+/-+/- and the chirality of its couplings. Assuming exclusive same-sign dilepton decays, we derive lower mass limits on H(+/-+/-)(L) of 133, 136, and 115 GeV/c(2) in the ee, mumu, and emu channels, respectively, and a lower mass limit of 113 GeV/c(2) on H(+/-+/-)(R) in the mumu channel, all at the 95% confidence level.

Measurement of the tt production cross section in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV using dilepton events

We report a measurement of the tt production cross section using dilepton events with jets and missing transverse energy in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV. Using a 197+/-12 pb(-1) data sample recorded by the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab, we use two complementary techniques to select candidate events. We compare the number of observed events and selected kinematical distributions with the predictions of the standard model and find good agreement. The combined result of the two techniques yields a tt production cross section of 7.0(+2.4)(-2.1)(stat)+1.6-1.1(syst)+/-0.4(lum) pb.

Inclusive double-pomeron exchange at the fermilab tevatron p p collider

We report results from a study of events with a double-Pomeron exchange topology produced in p p collisions at sqrt[s]=1800 GeV. The events are characterized by a leading antiproton and a large rapidity gap on the outgoing proton side. We find that the differential production cross section agrees in shape with predictions based on Regge theory and factorization, and that the ratio of double-Pomeron exchange to single diffractive production rates is relatively unsuppressed as compared to the O(10) suppression factor previously measured in single diffractive production.

Observation of the narrow state X(3872)-->J/psipi+pi- in pp collisions at sqaure root of s=1.96 TeV

We report the observation of a narrow state decaying into J/psipi+pi- and produced in 220 pb(-1) of p p-bar collisions at =1.96 Tesqaure root of sV in the CDF II experiment. We observe 730+/-90 decays. The mass is measured to be 3871.3+/-0.7(stat)+/-0.4(syst) MeV/c2, with an observed width consistent with the detector resolution. This is in agreement with the recent observation by the Belle Collaboration of the X(3872) meson.

Inclusive search for anomalous production of high-pT like-sign lepton pairs in pp collisions at square root s = 1.8 TeV

We report on a search for anomalous production of events with at least two charged, isolated, like-sign leptons, each with pT > 11 GeV/c using a 107 pb(-1) sample of 1.8 TeV pp collisions collected by the CDF detector. We define a signal region containing low background from standard model processes. To avoid bias, we fix the final cuts before examining the event yield in the signal region using control regions to test the Monte Carlo predictions. We observe no events in the signal region, consistent with an expectation of 0.63(+0.84)(-0.07) events. We present 95% confidence level limits on new physics processes in both a signature-based context as well as within a representative minimal supergravity (tanbeta = 3) model.

Search for B0s-->micro+micro- and B0d-->micro+micro- decays in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV

We report on a search for B(0)(s)-->micro(+)micro(-) and B(0)(d)-->micro(+)micro(-) decays in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV using 171 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. The decay rates of these rare processes are sensitive to contributions from physics beyond the standard model. One event survives all our selection requirements, consistent with the background expectation. We derive branching ratio limits of B(B(0)(s)-->micro(+)micro(-))<5.8x10(-7) and B(B(0)(d)-->micro(+)micro(-))<1.5x10(-7) at 90% confidence level.

Search for Kaluza-Klein graviton emission in pp collisions at square root[s] = 1.8 TeV using the missing energy signature

We report on a search for direct Kaluza-Klein graviton production in a data sample of 84 pb(-1) of ppmacr; collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV, recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We investigate the final state of large missing transverse energy and one or two high energy jets. We compare the data with the predictions from a (3+1+n)-dimensional Kaluza-Klein scenario in which gravity becomes strong at the TeV scale. At 95% confidence level (C.L.) for n=2, 4, and 6 we exclude an effective Planck scale below 1.0, 0.77, and 0.71 TeV, respectively.

Search for pair production of scalar top quarks in R-parity violating decay modes in pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV

We present the results of a search for pair production of scalar top quarks (t(1)) in an R-parity violating supersymmetry scenario in 106 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. In this mode each t(1) decays into a tau lepton and a b quark. We search for events with two tau's, one decaying leptonically (e or mu) and one decaying hadronically, and two jets. No candidate events pass our final selection criteria. We set a 95% confidence level lower limit on the t(1) mass at 122 GeV/c(2) for Br(t(1)-->tau b)=1.

Measurement of prompt charm meson production cross sections in pp collisions at square root s = 1.96 TeV

We report on measurements of differential cross sections dsigma/dp(T) for prompt charm meson production in ppmacr; collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV using 5.8+/-0.3 pb(-1) of data from the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. The data are collected with a new trigger that is sensitive to the long lifetime of hadrons containing heavy flavor. The charm meson cross sections are measured in the central rapidity region |y|</=1 in four fully reconstructed decay modes: D0-->K-pi(+), D(*+)-->D0pi(+), D+-->K-pi(+)pi(+), D(+)(s)-->phipi(+), and their charge conjugates. The measured cross sections are compared to theoretical calculations.

Search for lepton flavor violating decays of a heavy neutral particle in p(-)p collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV

We report on a search for a high mass, narrow width particle that decays directly to emu, etau, or microtau. We use approximately 110 pb(-1) of data collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab from 1992 to 1995. No evidence of lepton flavor violating decays is found. Limits are set on the production and decay of sneutrinos with R-parity violating interactions.

Central pseudorapidity gaps in events with a leading antiproton at the fermilab tevatron pp collider

We report a measurement of the fraction of events with a large pseudorapidity gap deltaeta within the pseudorapidity region available to the proton dissociation products X in p+p-->p+X. For a final state p of fractional momentum loss xi(p) and 4-momentum transfer squared t(p) within 0.06<xi(p)<0.09 and |t(p)|<1.0 [0.2] GeV2 at sqrt[s]=1800 [630] GeV, the fraction of events with deltaeta>3 is found to be 0.246+/-0.001 (stat)+/-0.042 (syst) [0.184+/-0.001 (stat)+/-0.043 (syst)]. Our results are compared with gap fractions measured in minimum bias pp collisions and with theoretical expectations.

Search for the supersymmetric partner of the top quark in dilepton events from pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV

We have searched for pair production of the supersymmetric partner of the top quark (stop) in 107 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s=1.8 TeV collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). Each stop is assumed to decay into a lepton, bottom quark, and supersymmetric neutrino. Such a scenario would give rise to events with two leptons, two hadronic jets, and a substantial imbalance of transverse energy. No evidence of such a stop signal has been found. We exclude stop masses in the region (80</=m(t)</=135 GeV/c(2)) in the mass plane of stop versus sneutrino.

Search for associated production of Upsilon and vector boson in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV

We present a search for associated production of the Upsilon(1S) and a vector boson in 83 pb(-1) of ppmacr; collisions at sqrt[s]=1.8 TeV collected by the CDF experiment in 1994-1995. We find no evidence of the searched signal in the data, and set upper limits to the production cross sections.

Basic fibroblast growth factor forms new trabeculae that physically connect with pre-existing trabeculae, and this new bone is maintained with an anti-resorptive agent and enhanced with an anabolic agent in an osteopenic rat model

Osteoporosis is a disease of excess bone fragility that results from both the loss of bone mass and trabecular bone microarchitecture, thereby creating a very fragile skeleton. The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment of ovariectomized (OVX) osteopenic rats with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) would stimulate the production of new trabeculae, and whether the newly formed trabeculae would make physical connections with the pre-existing trabeculae after prolonged estrogen deficiency. Six-month-old Sprague Dawley rats were OVXed or sham-operated and were left untreated until day 60 post-OVX. A high resolution microscopic scan (XTM) of the right proximal tibia was performed on groups 1 and 2 on day 1 post-OVX, and was repeated in all animals on day 60 post-OVX. At day 60 groups 1 and 2 were treated with vehicle and groups 3 to 6 were injected with bFGF 200 microg/kg/d intravenously for 15 days. At day 82, all animals obtained another in vivo XTM scan of the right tibia; then group 4 were treated with 17B estradiol 10 microg/kg/3x a week, group 5 were treated with hPTH (1-34) at 80 microg/kg/d for 35 days, group 6 were sacrificed, and groups 1 and 2 were treated with vehicle injections for 35 days. At day 110, all remaining animals were sacrificed, and repeat ex vivo XTM scans of the right proximal tibia were performed. Trabecular bone structural variables-including trabecular bone volume, connectivity, number, and thickness-were obtained from all XTM scans. Biochemical markers of bone turnover were also obtained 24 hours before each XTM scan (osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline), and analyzed by ELISA. Animals OVXed and treated with vehicle had decreased trabecular bone volume, connectivity and number compared to sham-operated animals at both day 60 and day 110. Animals treated with bFGF from day 60-75 post-OVX had evidence of new trabeculae that physically connected with pre-existing trabeculae and also of increased trabecular bone volume seven days after the injections were discontinued. Biochemical markers of bone formation had a small and insignificant increase over baseline levels during the bFGF injections. Bone resorption markers were significantly reduced during the injection period, but returned to baseline levels after the injections were stopped. In addition, we also demonstrated that these newly formed trabecular connections could be maintained or added to with either estrogen or hPTH (1-34) treatments. Thirty-five days after ending the bFGF treatment, trabecular bone volume and connectivity was 25-80% higher in the estrogen and hPTH (1-34) treated animals compared to the untreated animals ( p<0.01). These results support continued development of bFGF as a potential treatment for severely osteoporotic individuals.

Search for long-lived charged massive particles in pp collisions at square root s = 1.8 TeV

We report a search for the production of long-lived charged massive particles in a data sample of 90 pb(-1) of square root[s]=1.8 TeV pp collisions recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The search uses the muonlike penetration and anomalously high ionization energy loss signature expected for such a particle to discriminate it from backgrounds. The data are found to agree with background expectations, and cross section limits of O(1) pb are derived using two reference models, a stable quark and a stable scalar lepton.

Search for a W' boson decaying to a top and bottom quark pair in 1.8 TeV pp collisions

We report the results of a search for a W' boson produced in pp; collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV using a 106 pb(-1) data sample recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. We observe no significant excess of events above background for a W' boson decaying to a top and bottom quark pair. In a model where this boson would mediate interactions involving a massive right-handed neutrino (nu(R)) and have standard model strength couplings, we use these data to exclude a W' boson with mass between 225 and 536 GeV/c(2) at 95% confidence level for M(W')>>M(nu(R)) and between 225 and 566 GeV/c(2) at 95% confidence level for M(W')<M(nu(R)).

Estrogen and "exercise" have a synergistic effect in preventing bone loss in the lumbar vertebra and femoral neck of the ovariectomized rat

This study was designed to study the individual or combined effects of estrogen and bipedal stance "exercise" on the lumbar vertebral body (LVB) and femoral neck (FN). At 6 months of age, six rats were sacrificed as baseline controls and all the others were either bilateral sham-ovariectomized or ovariectomized (OVX). Groups of OVX rats were housed in normal height cage (NC, 28 cm) or raised height cages (RC, 33 cm) and received biweekly s.c. injections of 10 microg/kg 17 beta estradiol (E2) or vehicle for 4 and 8 weeks. Histomorphometric measurements were performed on the undecalcified mid-transverse sections of the 4th LVB and FN. Ovariectomy alone induced cancellous bone loss by 21% and 39% in the LVB and FN, respectively; intracortical porosity area of the FN increased by 108% while total bone area did not change significantly because of the periosteal expansion following OVX. E2 alone partially prevented cancellous bone loss in the LVB and FN and prevented increased intracortical porosity area in the FN by reducing eroded surface and activation frequency. RC alone partially prevented the decrease of cancellous bone in the LVB and FN by reducing the bone-eroded surface but increased wall width. E2 plus RC completely preserved cancellous bone by having an additive effect on reducing eroded surface and activation frequency. RC helped to partially prevent decreased periosteal bone formation after estrogen administration. In conclusion, apart from inducing cancellous bone loss in the LVB and FN, OVX also increased intracortical remodeling in the FN. Estrogen prevented the overall activation of remodeling space induced by OVX. Apart from having similar effects as estrogen on remodeling space, RC induced positive bone balance within each remodeling unit. Combination treatment increased total bone mass beyond that of sham-control level by having an additive effect on lowering bone remodeling and increasing wall in both the LVB and FN.