Wnt signaling and orthopedics, an overview

Wnt signaling is a ubiquitous system for intercellular communication, with multiple functions during development and in homeostasis of the body. It comprises several ligands, receptors, and inhibitors. Some molecules, such as sclerostin, appear to have bone-specific functions, and can be targeted by potential drugs. Now, ongoing clinical trials are testing these drugs as treatments for osteoporosis. Animal studies have also suggested that these drugs can accelerate fracture healing and implant fixation. This brief overview focuses on currently available information on the effects of manipulations of Wnt signaling on bone healing

Guidelines for the use and interpretatoin of assays for monitoring autophagy

NatuurwetenskappeFisiologiese WetenskappePlease help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected]

Uso de serviços odontológicos por pacientes com síndrome de Down Uso de servicios odontológicos por pacientes con síndrome de Down Utilization of oral health care for Down syndrome patients

OBJETIVO: Tendo como perspectiva a prática da integralidade, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar os fatores relacionados à atenção odontológica recebida por crianças e adolescentes com síndrome de Down. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 112 pares de mães com filhos sindrômicos de 3 a 18 anos, recrutados em ambulatório de genética de um hospital público, sem atendimento odontológico local, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 2006. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário aplicado às mães e do exame bucal dos filhos. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se a regressão logística múltipla. Analisou-se a "atenção odontológica da criança ou adolescente com síndrome de Down", em função de características demográficas, socioeconômicas e comportamentais. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos sindrômicos (79,5%) já tinha ido pelo menos uma vez ao dentista (IC 90%: 72,3; 87,8). A experiência odontológica das crianças foi associada às variáveis: mães que afirmaram receber orientação de algum profissional, que assiste seu filho, para que o levasse ao dentista (OR=6,1 [2,5; 15,1]), crianças/adolescentes com história prévia de cirurgia (OR=2,5 [0,9; 7,1]) e idade entre 12 e 18 anos (OR=13,1 [2,0; 86,9]). CONCLUSÕES: A atenção odontológica recebida pelas crianças e adolescentes com síndrome de Down foi relacionada à orientação dos profissionais de saúde que os assistem, caracterizando um atendimento integral por parte da equipe de saúde.<br>OBJETIVO: Teniendo como perspectiva la práctica de integridad, el objetivo de estudio fue analizar los factores relacionados a la atención odontológica recibida por niños y adolescentes con síndrome de Down. MÉTODOS: Fue realizado un estudio transversal con 112 pares de madres con hijos sindrómicos de 3 a 18 años, reclutados en ambulatorio de genética de un hospital público, sin atención odontológico local, en la ciudad de Rio de Janeiro, sudeste de Brasil, 2006. Los datos fueron colectados por medio de un cuestionario aplicado a las madres y del examen bucal de los hijos. Para análisis de los datos se utilizó a regresión logística múltiple. Se analizó la "atención odontológica del niño o adolescente con síndrome de Down", en función de características demográficas, socioeconómicas y de comportamiento. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los sindrómicos (79,5%) ya había ido por lo menos una vez al dentista (IC 90%: 72,3;87,8). La experiencia odontológica de los niños fue asociada a las variables: madres que afirmaron recibir orientación de algún profesional, que atiende a su hijo, para llevarlo al dentista (OR=6,1 [2,5; 15,1]), niños o adolescentes con historia anterior de cirugía (OR=2,5 [0,9; 7,1]) y edad entre 12 y 18 anos (OR=13,1 [2,0; 86,9]). Conclusiones: La atención odontológica recibida por los niños y adolescentes con síndrome de Down fue relacionada a la orientación de los profesionales de salud que los asisten, caracterizando una atención integral por parte del equipo de salud. CONCLUSÕES: La atención odontológica recibida por los niños y adolescentes con síndrome de Down fue relacionada a la orientación de los profesionales de salud que los asisten, caracterizando una atención integral por parte del equipo de salud.<br>OBJECTIVE: From a perspective of comprehensive care, the purpose of the study was to evaluate factors associated to dental care provided to Down syndrome children and adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 112 pairs of mothers/Down syndrome children aged between 3 and 18 years who attended a public hospital genetics clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil, in 2006. Dental care was not provided at the clinic. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to the mothers and oral examinations of their children. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis. The dependent variable was "dental care of the Down syndrome child or adolescent" and the independent variables included demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS: Most children (79.5%) had had at least one dental visit (90% CI: 72.3; 87.8). Dental experience of the children was associated to the following variables: mothers who reported being advised by their children's health provider to take them to the dentist's (OR=6.1 [2.5; 15.1]); children with prior history of surgery (OR=2.5 [0.9; 7.1]); and age between 12 and 18 years (OR=13.1 [2.0; 86.9]). CONCLUSIONS: Dental care provided to Down syndrome children and adolescents was associated to advice given by their health providers, a part of comprehensive care

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field