Comparison of plasma endothelin levels between osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal subjects

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that endothelins (ET) have significant roles in bone remodeling, metabolism and physiopathology of several bone diseases. We aimed to investigate if there was any difference between the plasma ET levels of osteoporotic patients and normals. METHODS: 86 patients (70 women and 16 men) with a mean age of 62.6 (ranges: 51–90) years were included in this study. Patients were divided into groups of osteoporosis, osteopenia and normal regarding reported T scores of DEXA evaluation according to the suggestions of World Health Organization. According to these criteria 19, 43 and 24 were normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic respectively. Then total plasma level of ET was measured in all patients with monoclonal antibody based sandwich immunoassay (EIA) method. One-way analysis of variance test was used to compare endothelin values between normals, osteopenics and osteoporotics. RESULTS: Endothelin total plasma level in patients was a mean of 98.36 ± 63.96, 100.92 ± 47.2 and 99.56 ± 56.6 pg/ml in osteoporotic, osteopenic and normal groups respectively. The difference between groups was not significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: No significant differences in plasma ET levels among three groups of study participants could be detected in this study

Histopathological Evaluation of Mechanoreceptors in the Metatarsophalangeal Joint Capsule in Hallux Valgus

To date, we could find no study concerning the relationship between mechanoreceptors in the joint capsule of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and hallux valgus deformity. We aimed to investigate the presence of mechanoreceptors in samples obtained from the first metatarsophalangeal joint capsules of patients with hallux valgus deformity to improve our understanding of the clinical and histopathological features of the disease. Samples were taken from the first metatarsophalangeal joint capsules of 13 fresh-frozen cadavers with normal anatomy (controls) and 29 patients undergoing surgery for hallux valgus (cases). For light microscopy, excised specimens were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and processed for routine histopathological investigation. All samples were dehydrated in a series of ethanol, cleared in xylene, and embedded in paraffin. Orientation of collagen fibers was determined on Masson's trichrome-stained sections, and mechanoreceptors were evaluated on S-100-immunostained sections. In the sections stained with Masson's trichrome, the orientation of collagen fibers was regular in the control group. However, coarse and disoriented collagen bundles were observed in the hallux valgus cases (P <=.05). S-100 immunostaining was positive in the sections of both the cases and controls. Finally, free nerve endings were more abundant in the samples obtained from the capsules of hallux valgus cases than from the control group (P <= .05). An increase in the number of free nerve endings within the capsules of the first metatarsophalangeal joints in feet with hallux valgus deformity might have a role in the development of clinically relevant joint pain and instability. (C) 2020 by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. All rights reserved