Ectopic Bone in the Lungs and Spleen of Male Fisher-344 Rats

Previous experimental data demonstrated ossified particles (OSP, i.e., bone-like particles) in the circulation of rodents as well as human subjects. Their ability to circulate could ultimately permit access to vital tissues, potentially leading to ectopic bone formation. Although the fate of OSP is yet unclear, their entry into soft tissues and organs may initiate pathological processes. PURPOSE: We sought to determine the presence of bone in the soft organs. METHODS: Young (6-mon; n=10) and old (24-mon; n=10) male Fisher-344 rats were anesthetized (3% isoflurane to oxygen balance) and euthanized by removal of the heart. Body mass (g) was determined prior to dissecting the right and left lungs and spleen. The tissues were stored in 10% formalin for 3 days at 4°C and then in 70% EtOH at -20°C until analysis. They were subsequently scanned (55 kVp and 145 µA) at 15µm via micro-computed tomography (µCT 45; Scanco Medical, Inc. Switzerland). To determine bone volume within the tissues, the entire lungs and spleen were analyzed. One-Way ANOVAs were used to determine significant differences in body mass (g), right lung mass (g), left lung mass (g), spleen mass (g), bone volume in the right lung (µm3), bone volume in the left lung (µm3), bone volume in the spleen (µm3), bone volume relative to right lung mass (µm3/g), bone volume relative to left lung mass (µm3/g), and bone volume relative to spleen mass (µm3/g). A p value of 0.05 was set a priori. Data are presented as Means ± Standard Deviation. RESULTS: Body mass was higher (pp3 vs. 34.8± 21.6 μm3, respectively) and left (71.2 ± 54.7 μm3 vs. 21.0 ± 7.4 μm3, respectively) lungs were higher (p3 vs. 2.6 ± 4.2 μm3, respectively) did not differ between young and old rats. When normalized to right lung mass (young, 49.2 ± 32.5 μm3/g vs. old, 186.6 ± 117.8 μm3 /g) and left lung mass (young, 42.2 ± 17.5 μm3/g vs. old, 127.0 ± 92.2 μm3/g), bone volumes were higher (p3/g vs. old, 2.3. ± 5.5 μm3/g), no differences were observed. CONCLUSION: We speculate that the presence of bone in the soft organs (i.e., ectopic bone formation) is associated with OSP in the circulation. Ectopic bone formation was exacerbated in the right and left lungs with advancing age. The presence of bone in the soft organs may contribute to a diverse number of pathologies

Ectopic Bone in the Kidneys and Visceral Fat of Male Fischer-344 Rats

Ossified particles (OSP) are microscopic, bone-like fragments found in the circulatory system of rodents and humans. Although theorized to develop in the bone marrow, their origin and impact on physiological processes are unknown. Further, the fate of OSP has not been determined and may exit the circulatory system and enter organs and tissues. PURPOSE: We sought to detect the presence of ectopic bone in the kidneys and visceral fat of rodents. METHODS: Young (6-mon; n=10) and old (24-mon; n=10) male Fischer-344 rats were anesthetized with isoflurane (3% to oxygen balance) and euthanized by excising the heart. The right and left kidneys and a segment of visceral fat were dissected, weighed (g), fixed in 10% formalin for 3 days at 4°C, and stored in 70% EtOH at -20°C. Tissues were subsequently analyzed via micro-computed tomography (μCT 45; Scanco Medical, Inc. Switzerland) and scanned at 15 µm. The following data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVAs (SPSS v29) and reported as follows: body mass (g), right kidney mass (g), left kidney mass (g), visceral fat mass (g), bone volume in the right kidney (μm3), bone volume in the left kidney (μm3), bone volume in the visceral fat (μm3), bone volume relative to right kidney mass (μm3/g), bone volume relative to left kidney mass (μm3/g), and bone volume relative to visceral fat mass (μm3/g). A p value of 0.05 was set a priori. Data are presented as Mean ± Standard deviation. RESULTS: Body mass was higher (p\u3c0.05) in the old vs. young rats (400 ± 31g vs. 352 ± 27g, respectively). Right kidney mass (1.35 ± 0.20g vs. 1.09 ± 0.13g, respectively), left kidney mass (1.37 ± 0.20g vs. 1.11 ± 0.12g, respectively) and visceral fat mass (3.25 ± 0.26g vs. 1.89 ± 0.42g, respectively) were higher (p\u3c0.05) in old vs. young rats. Bone volume in the right kidney (0.65 ± 0.56 μm3 vs. 0.62 ± 0.43 μm3, respectively), left kidney (0.51 ± 0.59 μm3 vs. 0.96 ± 0.86μm3, respectively) and visceral fat (0.98 ± 0.59 μm3 vs. 2.43 ± 04.35 μm3, respectively) did not differ between young and old rats. Further, there were still no differences when bone volume was normalized to right kidney mass (young, 0.47 ± 0.36 μm3/g vs. old, 0.49 ± 0.27 μm3/g), left kidney mass (young, 0.41 ± 0.53 μm3/g vs. old, 0.79 ± 0.70 μm3/g) and visceral fat mass (young, 0.58 ± 0.48 μm3/g vs. old, 0.79. ± 1.48 μm3/g). CONCLUSION: Advancing age did not augment the volume of bone in the kidneys and visceral fat. Despite this, the presence of bone in organs and tissues may affect physiological processes and should be explored. Further, we suggest a potential link between circulating OSP and ectopic bone observed in the organs and tissue of these rodents

Modelling India’s coal production with a negatively skewed curve-fitting model

India’s coal demand is forecast to increase at a rapid pace in the future due to the country’s economic and population growth. Analyzing the scope for future production of India’s domestic coal resources, therefore, plays a vital role in the country’s development of sound energy policies. This paper presents a quantitative scenario analysis of India’s potential future coal production by using a negatively skewed curve-fitting model and a range of estimates of the country’s ultimately recoverable resources (URR) of coal. The results show that the resource base is sufficient for India’s coal production to keep increasing over the next few decades, to reach between 2400 and 3200 Mt/y at 2050, depending on the assumed value of URR. A further analysis shows that the high end of this range, which corresponds to our ‘GSI’ scenario, can be considered as the probable upper-bound to India’s domestic coal production. Comparison of production based on the ‘GSI’ scenario with India’s predicted demand shows that the domestic production of coal will be insufficient to meet the country’s rising coal demand, with the gap between demand and production increasing from its current value of about 268 Mt/y to reach 300 Mt/y in 2035, and 700 Mt/y by 2050. This increasing gap will be challenging for the energy security of India

Renewable energy from Cyanobacteria: energy production optimization by metabolic pathway engineering

The need to develop and improve sustainable energy resources is of eminent importance due to the finite nature of our fossil fuels. This review paper deals with a third generation renewable energy resource which does not compete with our food resources, cyanobacteria. We discuss the current state of the art in developing different types of bioenergy (ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, etc.) from cyanobacteria. The major important biochemical pathways in cyanobacteria are highlighted, and the possibility to influence these pathways to improve the production of specific types of energy forms the major part of this review

ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction as Presenting Feature of C-ANCA Vasculitis: A Case of a Diagnostic Dilemma

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although uncommon, it should be included in the differential diagnosis for middle-aged patients without elevated atherosclerotic vascular disease risk or a family history of cardiovascular disease. SCAD is associated with postpartum women; however, reports noting its association with autoimmune disease and vasculopathy in other populations have recently gained prominence. We report a case of a 41-year-old male who was found to have SCAD after presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in the context of episodic vision loss, and who later underwent work-up for C-ANCA vasculitis and was successfully treated with corticosteroids

Prosthetic mitral valve Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis

Aspergillus endocarditis is a fatal source of valvular infection with a near 100 % mortality rate if pharmacotherapy and valve-replacement surgery are not initiated swiftly after diagnosis. Complicating its diagnosis is the low yield for growth on standard blood culture and time requirements for molecular diagnostic tools to return a result. Aspergillus endocarditis of the mitral valve presents as valvular vegetations that reduce the caliber of the mitral valve and can cause syncope as in the case of mitral stenosis with subsequent valve failure, left atrial enlargement, and prospective cardiovascular failure. Reports of the management of Aspergillus endocarditis after serial mitral valve replacement are not prominent in the literature. We report the case of a 41-year-old female with previous mitral valve prosthesis who received a second prosthetic mitral valve after a syncopal episode. Vegetations resembling thrombi were noted on transesophageal echocardiogram, diagnosed as Aspergillus fumigatus endocarditis, and successfully treated with antifungal therapy in conjunction with removal of her dysfunctional prosthesis