Differential upregulation of the three transforming growth factor beta isoforms in human osteoarthritic cartilage

OBJECTIVES

Decreased levels of transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) have been related to the failure of cartilage repair in experimental models of osteoarthritis. This study aimed to examine this aspect of osteoarthritis in human cartilage.

METHODS

Cartilage samples were obtained from 11 patients with hip osteoarthritis and 11 patients with femoral neck fracture who were undergoing total hip replacement. Gene expression of the three TGFbeta isoforms, collagen type II (COL2A1) and aggrecan (AGC1) was analysed by reverse transcription quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Expression of the three TGFbeta isoforms was increased in osteoarthritis cartilage. The upregulation was more marked for the TGFbeta3 isoform (2.3-fold) than for TGFbeta1 (1.6-fold) or TGFbeta2 (1.7-fold). The messenger RNA levels of TGFbeta1 and TGFbeta2 were strongly correlated in osteoarthritis cartilage (r(s) = 0.83, p = 0.002), but levels of TGFbeta3 were uncorrelated with any of the two other TGFbeta isoforms. Immunohistochemistry showed an extension of immunoreactivity for the three TGFbeta isoforms to more chondrocytes and to deeper cartilage layers in the more severe osteoarthritis lesions. No correlation of TGFbeta isoforms with COL2A1 or AGC1 expression levels was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The three isoforms of TGFbeta were differentially upregulated in late osteoarthritis in relation to an increased percentage of TGFbeta-positive chondrocytes. These results indicate that cartilage damage progresses in spite of the TGFbeta stimulus for cartilage anabolism and that other causes of the failure to cope with the increased cartilage catabolism of osteoarthritis should be investigated.

A radiofrequency-assisted device for bloodless rapid transection of the liver: A comparative study in a pig liver model

BACKGROUND

Efficient and safe liver parenchymal transection is dependent on the ability to address both parenchymal division and hemostasis simultaneously. In this article we describe and compare with a saline-linked instrument a new radiofrequency (RF)-assisted device specifically designed for tissue thermocoagulation and division of the liver used on an in vivo pig liver model.

METHODS

In total, 20 partial hepatectomies were performed on pigs through laparotomy. Two groups were studied: group A (n=8) with hepatectomy performed using only the proposed RF-assisted device and group B (n=8) with hepatectomy performed using only a saline-linked device. Main outcome measures were: transection time, blood loss during transection, transection area, transection speed and blood loss per transection area. Secondary measures were: risk of biliary leakage, tissue coagulation depth and the need for hemostatic stitches. Tissue viability was evaluated in selected samples by staining of tissue NADH.

RESULTS

In group A both blood loss and blood loss per transection area were lower (p=0.001) than in group B (70+/-74 ml and 2+/-2 ml/cm(2) vs. 527+/-273 ml and 13+/-6 ml/cm(2), for groups A and B, respectively). An increase in mean transection speed when using the proposed device over the saline-linked device group was also demonstrated (3+/-0 and 2+/-1cm(2)/min for group A and B, respectively) (p=0.002). Tissue coagulation depth was greater (p=0.005) in group A than in group B (6+/-2 mm and 3+/-1 mm, for groups A and B, respectively). Neither macroscopic nor microscopic differences were encountered in transection surfaces between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed RF-assisted device was shown to address parenchymal division and hemostasis simultaneously, with less blood loss and faster transection time than saline-linked technology in this experimental model.

Genetic variation in the nuclear factor kappaB pathway in relation to susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To examine genetic association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and known polymorphisms in core genes of the nuclear factor (NF)kappaB pathway, the major intracellular pathway in RA pathogenesis.

METHODS

Discovery and replication sample sets of Spanish patients with RA and controls were studied. A total of 181 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) uniformly spaced along the genomic sequences of 17 core genes of the NFkappaB pathway (REL, RELA, RELB, NFKB1, NFKB2, NFKBIA, NFKBIB, NFKBIE, IKBKA, IKBKB, IKBKE, IKBKAP, KBRAS1, KBRAS2, MAP3K1, MAP3K14, TAX1BP1) were studied by mass spectrometry analysis complemented with 5'-nuclease fluorescence assays in the discovery set, 458 patients with RA and 657 controls. SNPs showing nominal significant differences were further investigated in the replication set of 1189 patients with RA and 1092 controls.

RESULTS

No clear reproducible association was found, although 12 SNPs in IKBKB, IKBKE and REL genes showed significant association in the discovery set. Interestingly, two of the SNPs in the IKBKE gene, weakly associated in the discovery phase, showed a trend to significant association in the replication phase. Pooling both sample sets together, the association with these two SNPs was significant.

CONCLUSION

We did not find any major effect among the explored members of the NFkappaB pathway in RA susceptibility. However, it is possible that variation in the IKBKE gene could have a small effect that requires replication in additional studies.

Effects of motherhood on physiological and subjective responses to infant cries in teenage mothers: a comparison with non-mothers and adult mothers

The present study was designed to determine whether becoming a mother during the adolescent period changes maternal responsiveness or maternal motivation, assessed through hormonal, autonomic, and hedonic responses to recorded infant cries and interactions with their babies. Fifty-six teen mothers were compared to 58 teen non-mothers and 49 adult mothers. Teen mothers reported more sympathy and alertness in response to recorded infant cries compared to non -mother teens; however, among the teen women there were no differences between mothers and non-mothers in heart rate and cortisol responses to infant cries. In contrast, in comparison to adult mothers, teen mothers reported the same levels of sympathy and alertness to infant cries; however, adult mothers showed an 'alerted' pattern of heart rate and cortisol response to infant cries not seen in the teen mother group. Inclusion of the covariate, fathers' employment classification as an index of SES or time of testing and cortisol sampling did not affect this pattern of results. Taken together, these results show that where self-report is used as a measure of maternal responsiveness, teen mothers are no different in responsiveness than adult mothers; however, where physiological and interactional measures of responsiveness are considered, teen mothers are less likely to show heightened or selective responses to infant cries or respond 'attentively' to the infant.

CAPN10 alleles modify laryngeal cancer risk in the Spanish population

AIMS

Laryngeal carcinoma is a common upper respiratory tract cancer with different environmental and genetic factors involved in its development. To date, CAPN10 has been found to be extensively associated with hyperinsulinaemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus, by different groups. In addition, some reports have shown evidence that hyperinsulinaemia exerts a protective effect on laryngeal cancer risk. On the other hand, low circulating levels of IGF-1 have been recently found in patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Our objective was to examine the contribution of CAPN10 alleles to the development of laryngeal cancer.

METHODS

Cases and controls were recruited from central and southern Spain. Genotypes were determined using pyrosequencing technology. We analysed CAPN10 UCSNP-44, -43, -19, and -63 allelic distribution in 218 unrelated laryngeal cancer patients and 606 controls from the general population.

RESULTS

We found that the UCSNP-44 allele-C is significantly under-represented among patients with laryngeal cancer (OR=0.685, p=0.02).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that some CAPN10 alleles may be exerting a protective effect on laryngeal cancer risk in the Spanish population.

Radiofrequency hepatic ablation with internally cooled electrodes and hybrid applicators with distant saline infusion using an in vivo porcine model

AIMS

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of tumors by means of internally cooled (ICE) or multitined expandable electrodes combined with infusion of saline into the tissue may improve results. Our aim was to determine the efficacy of a previously optimized hybrid ICE system (ICE combined with infusion of saline into the tissue at a distance of 2mm) in comparison with a conventional ICE cluster electrode in porcine liver in vivo.

METHODS

A total of 32 RFA were performed on a total of 10 farm pigs using two RFA systems: Group A (n=16): Cluster electrode. Group B (n=16): Hybrid system (with continuous infusion of 100ml/h of 20% NaCl at 2mm distance from the electrode shaft by an independent isolated needle). Livers were removed for macroscopic and histological assessment after the procedure. Coagulation volume, coagulation diameters, coefficient of variability (CV) of coagulation volume, sphericity ratio (SR), deposited power (DP), deposited energy (DE), deposited energy per coagulation volume (DEV) and rise of animal temperature during the procedure were compared and correlated among groups. Additionally, linear regression analysis was modeled to study the relationship between deposited energy and either coagulation volume and rise of animal temperature during the procedure in both groups.

RESULTS

Both coagulation volume and short diameter of coagulation were significantly greater (p<0.05) in group B compared to group A (22.7+/-11.0 cm(3) and 3.1+/-0.7 cm vs. 13.5+/-7.7 cm(3) and 2.5+/-0.5 cm, respectively). A similar CV and SR was observed among groups (57.1% and 1.4+/-0.3 vs. 48.6% and 1.3+/-0.2 for groups B and A, respectively). In group B, DE and DP were more than double group A, but DEV was nearly twice as high (9782 J/cm(3) vs. 5342 J/cm(3), for groups B and A, respectively). No significant relationship between DE and coagulation volume was encountered.

CONCLUSION

Efficacy of a single ICE may be improved with continuous infusion of saline at around 2 mm from the electrode shaft. Coagulation volume obtained with this improved system may be even greater than that obtained with a cluster electrode.

Compatibility of Segmenting Fluids in Continuous-Flow Microfluidic PCR

Continuous flow offers notable advantages over batch processing for analytical applications like gene expression profiling of biological material, which demands very high processing. The technology of choice for future genetic analyzers will most likely use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR); therefore, high-throughput, high-speed PCR devices have raised enormous interest. Continuous-flow, biphasic PCR can meet these requirements but segmenting∕carrier fluids chemically compatible with the PCR are needed. The present paper compares several fluids in terms of compatibility with PCR and fluidic dynamics in a continuous, two-phase flow microfluidic device, and PCR efficiency was assessed quantitatively. The results represent the first step toward rational fluid design for biphasic continuous PCR.

Melatonin and estradiol effects on food intake, body weight, and leptin in ovariectomized rats

OBJECTIVE

The study in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats, as a model of menopausal status, of the effects of melatonin (M) and/or estradiol (E), associated or not with food restriction, on body weight (BW) and serum leptin levels.

METHODS

Female SD rats (200-250 g) were Ovx and treated with E, M, E+M or its diluents. Control sham-Ovx rats were treated with E-M diluents. After 7 weeks being fed ad libitum, the animals were exposed for 7 more weeks to a 30% food restriction. We measured: food intake, BW, nocturnal and diurnal urinary excretion of sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), leptin in midday and midnight blood samples, glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides.

RESULTS

Day/night rhythm of aMT6s excretion was preserved in all cases. The increase of aMT6s excretion in M-treated animals basically affected the nocturnal period. In animals fed ad libitum, E fully prevented Ovx-induced increase of BW, leptin and cholesterol. Melatonin reduced food intake and partially prevented the increase of BW and cholesterol, without changing leptin levels. Under food restriction, M was the most effective treatment in reducing BW and cholesterol. Leptin levels were similar in M, E or E+M treated rats, and lower than in untreated Ovx rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Our result gives a preliminary experimental basis for a post-menopausal co-treatment with estradiol and melatonin. It could combine the effectiveness of estradiol (not modified by melatonin) with the positive effects of melatonin (improvement of sleep quality, prevention of breast cancer, etc.). The possible beneficial effects of melatonin which could justify its use, need to be demonstrated in clinical trials.