Serum hyaluronic acid as a potential marker with a predictive value for further radiographic progression of hand osteoarthritis

SummaryObjectiveTo compare serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) between patients with erosive and non-erosive hand osteoarthritis (HOA), and investigate its association with morphological changes and radiographic progression over 2 years.MethodsFifty-five women with erosive and 33 women with non-erosive HOA were included in this study. All underwent clinical examination, which included assessment of pain, swelling, deformity and deviation of small hand joints and completed health assessment questionnaires. Serum levels of HA were measured by ELISA. Three-phase bone scintigraphy was performed at baseline. Radiographs of both hands were performed at baseline and after 2 years and scored according Kallman grading scale.ResultsSerum levels of HA were significantly higher in patients with erosive than with non-erosive HOA (P<0.01). It correlated significantly with the number of hand joints with deviations and deformities. HA adjusted for age and disease duration significantly correlated with radiographs at baseline and after 2 years in all patients with HOA (r=0.560 and r=0.542, P<0.01 for both correlations). Although there was an association between HA and radiographic score in erosive disease, after adjustment for confounders it remained no longer significant. HA adjusted for confounders correlated significantly with the late phase in all patients with HOA (r=0.412, P<0.01) and in patients with erosive disease (r=0.320, P<0.05).ConclusionHA is increased in patients with erosive HOA and could be proposed as a surrogate marker with a predictive value for further radiographic progression of HOA in general. Further investigation is necessary to confirm these results

Modulation of metabolic activity of phagocytes by antihistamines

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of H1-antihistamines of the 1st generation (antazoline, bromadryl, brompheniramine, dithiaden, cyclizine, chlorcyclizine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine) and the 2nd generation (acrivastine, ketotifen, and loratadine) on the respiratory burst of phagocytes. Reactive oxygen species generation in neutrophils isolated from rat blood was measured using luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. Changes in nitrite formation and iNOS protein expression by RAW 264.7 macrophages were analysed using Griess reaction and Western blotting. The antioxidative properties of drugs in cell-free systems were detected spectrophotometrically, luminometrically, fluorimetrically, and amperometrically. The majority of the H1-antihistamines tested (bromadryl, brompheniramine, chlorcyclizine, chlorpheniramine, clemastine, dithiaden, and ketotifen) exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on the chemiluminescence activity of phagocytes. H1-antihistamines did not show significant scavenging properties against superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical, thus this could not contribute to the inhibition of chemiluminescence. H1-antihistamines had a different ability to modulate nitric oxide production by LPS-stimulated macrophages. Bromadryl, clemastine, and dithiaden were the most effective since they inhibited iNOS expression, which was followed by a significant reduction in nitrite levels. H1-antihistamines had no scavenging activity against nitric oxide. It can be concluded that the effects observed in the H1-antihistamines tested are not mediated exclusively via H1-receptor pathway or by direct antioxidative properties. Based on our results, antihistamines not interfering with the microbicidal mechanisms of leukocytes (antazoline, acrivastine and cyclizine) could be used preferentially in infections. Other antihistamines should be used, under pathological conditions accompanied by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species

Hyaluronic acid levels may have predictive value for the progression of knee osteoarthritis

AbstractStudy objectives: To study prognostic value of different biochemical markers for morphological progression of early knee osteoarthritis.Design: A total of 89 patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were enroled into the study. The follow-up period was 2 years. Radiological OA progression was evaluated by measuring joint space width. Pentosidine was detected using the HPLC method described earlier, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) using the method published by our team. MMP-9, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP), YKL-40 and hyaluronic acid were detected using commercially available kits.Results: In the group of patients suffering from knee OA, higher serum levels of pentosidine (P=0.04), MMP-9 (P=0.02), TIMP (P=0.04) and COMP (P=0.05) were detected compared with healthy control subjects. Using a correlation analysis method, it has been found that the patients with higher basic serum levels of hyaluronic acid had a faster radiological progression (r=0.56, P<0.005), as well as the patients with higher basic serum pentosidine levels (r=0.30, P<0.005). Other biochemical markers had no statistically significant prognostic value.Conclusions: In our study, serum levels of hyaluronic acid and pentosidine had a predictive value for further development of knee OA in that further joint space narrowing was detected in the patients with knee OA in the next 2 years

The age of clusters and its influence on their activity preferences

The aim of this paper is to determine whether there exist age dependent differences in the orientation of clusters' activities. The literature depicts different approaches to the cluster evolution process, highlighting that clusters are subject to a life cycle that emphasizes different sets of activities in various stages of their development. These activities appear to follow a certain trajectory, whereby the successful completion of initial less-intensive activities stimulates a shift in focus to more demanding, long-term projects. The presented research verifies that clusters can pass through different stages of development, and examines in detail their preferences for jointly-undertaken activities. Research, conducted on a sample of clusters of different countries and ages, was carried out through the use of questionnaires and structured interviews with cluster managers. It is a sample of so-called organized clusters, which have their own internal structure and which are characterized by conscious development. The study identified common cluster activities in the following areas: networking, human resources, research and innovations, business cooperation and promotion, support activities, lobbying, etc. The preference of their implementation was also ascertained. In addition, the analyzed sample was divided into two categories according to cluster age, allowing for a comparison and differentiation of the level of implementation of joint activities between embryonic and established clusters. The evaluation of this research demonstrated that in the selected groups of activities, there was a statistically significant difference in terms of their level of implementation in clusters of various ages. © 2013 Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) Press

Diversification trends in Moldovan international migration: evidence from Czechia and Italy

This contribution advances knowledge of contemporary Moldovan migration and is the first comparative description of the situation of Moldovans in Czechia and Italy. Our specific objective is to review evidence about how the concept of the migration-development nexus applies to the Moldovan situation. In the absence of comparable primary data on Moldovan migration our research design uses mixed methods and triangulates data from Moldova and across the main destinations for Moldovan migration, including Italy and Czechia. In addition to confirming prior research on the significance of remittances to the Moldovan economy since 1991, we report three additional findings. First, Moldovan migrants, particularly women who may work as domestic workers are often invisible and undercounted. Second, Moldovan migration is rapidly diversifying, with new destinations, selectivities, and forms and modes of mobility. Third, the global economic recession of 2008 had different implications for Moldovan migration patterns to and from Czechia and Italy. We conclude with a specific call for research that extends the migration-development nexus by examining social remittances and the mobility and labour strategies of Moldovan family reunifiers. The paper also argues for availability of robust data that would allow comparative analysis of international migration and could better support evidence-based debates about migration

Diversification trends in Moldovan international migration :evidence from Czechia and Italy

This contribution advances knowledge of contemporary Moldovan migration and is the first comparative description of the situation of Moldovans in Czechia and Italy. Our specific objective is to review evidence about how the concept of the migration-development nexus applies to the Moldovan situation. In the absence of comparable primary data on Moldovan migration our research design uses mixed methods and triangulates data from Moldova and across the main destinations for Moldovan migration, including Italy and Czechia. In addition to confirming prior research on the significance of remittances to the Moldovan economy since 1991, we report three additional findings. First, Moldovan migrants, particularly women who may work as domestic workers are often invisible and undercounted. Second, Moldovan migration is rapidly diversifying, with new destinations, selectivities, and forms and modes of mobility. Third, the global economic recession of 2008 had different implications for Moldovan migration patterns to and from Czechia and Italy. We conclude with a specific call for research that extends the migration-development nexus by examining social remittances and the mobility and labour strategies of Moldovan family reunifiers. The paper also argues for availability of robust data that would allow comparative analysis of international migration and could better support evidence-based debates about migration.23724