Management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: prevalence, and emerging treatment options

An excess amount of glucocorticoids represents the primary and most frequent etiological factor influencing secondary osteoporosis. Patients receiving glucocorticoids, but also those with the endogenous form of hypercorticism, are at high risk for the loss of bone density, with the subsequent occurrence of pathological fractures. In this review, we summarize the currently available methods of prevention and the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. We also include a proposal for both a prophylactic and therapeutic approach that takes into account the risk factors typical for long-term users of glucocorticoids

FOXP3+CD25− Tumor Cells with Regulatory Function in Sézary Syndrome

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) has been suggested by in vitro experiments to represent a malignant CD4+ T-cell proliferation with a regulatory T-cell (Treg) phenotype (CD4+CD25+FOXP3+). We investigated percentages of FOXP3+ and CD25+ cells in the blood of 15 Sézary, 14 mycosis fungoides (MF), and 10 psoriasis (Pso) patients and 20 normal healthy donors (NHDs). We found similar numbers of FOXP3+ cells in MF (10.4% of blood CD4+ cells) and Pso (11.1%) patients and NHDs (9.8%). In 8 of 15 (53%) Sézary patients, significantly reduced percentages of FOXP3+ cells were seen in blood (2.9%) and skin (10.4%). Interestingly, 6 of 15 (40%) Sézary patients showed significantly increased percentages of FOXP3+ cells (39.7% (blood), 20.3% (skin)); however, these cells did not express CD25. In these latter patients, clone-specific TCR-Vβ-chain antibodies were used to demonstrate that these FOXP3+CD25− cells were monoclonal CTCL tumor cells. FOXP3+CD25− CTCL tumor cells showed a highly demethylated status of the foxp3 gene locus similar to Treg cells, and they were functionally able to suppress IL-2 mRNA induction in TCR-stimulated conventional T cells. Thus, FOXP3+CD25− CTCL tumor cells with functional features of Treg cells define a subgroup of Sézary patients who might carry a different prognosis and might require differential treatment

Ácidos grasos como marcadores de las relaciones tróficas entre el sestón, el zooplancton crustáceo y el sifonóforo Nanomia cara en Georges Basin y el cañón Oceanographer (NO Atlántico)

[EN] Fatty acid concentrations expressed as percentages of total fatty acid pools in seston, stage V copepodites of Calanus finmarchicus, adults of the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica, and the physonect siphonophore Nanomia cara were used to elucidate trophic links in Georges Basin and Oceanographer Canyon in September 2003. Seston at both locations was refractory and comprised mainly of saturated fatty acids. Phytoplankton did not contribute significantly to the fatty acid composition of seston or higher trophic levels. Only four fatty acids, i.e. 14:0, 16:0, 16:1 (n–7) and 18:1 (n–7), were transferred from seston to C. finmarchicus or M. norvegica, which suggested weak trophic interactions. Fatty acids transferred from the two species of crustaceans to N. cara included the same four fatty acids, along with three polyunsaturated fatty acids found in relatively high concentrations in both crustaceans, i.e. 20:3 (n–6), 20:5 (n–3) and 22:6 (n–3). In addition, 18:1 (n–9), which occurred in relatively high concentrations only in M. norvegica, and 18:0 and 18:2 (n–6), which were found in low concentrations in both crustaceans, also appeared to be transferred to N. cara. Overall, fatty acid trophic markers proved useful for identifying trophic links to N. cara[ES] En este estudio se utilizaron las concentraciones de ácidos grasos (expresadas como porcentajes) para identificar posibles relaciones tróficas entre el seston, el estadio V (copepoditos) de Calanus finmarchicus, los adultos del eufáusido Meganyctiphanes norvegica, y el sifonóforo fisonecto Nanomia cara en Georges Basin y el cañón submarino Oceanographer durante Septiembre de 2003. En ambos lugares el seston era muy refractario y compuesto básicamente por ácidos grasos saturados. El fitoplancton no contribuyó de forma significativa a la composición de ácidos grasos del seston o de niveles tróficos superiores. Sólo cuatro ácidos grasos [14:0, 16:0, 16:1 (n–7) y 18:1 (n–7)] se transfirieron potencialmente del seston a C. finmarchicus o M. norvegica, lo que sugiere una débil conexión trófica entre estos eslabones de la cadena. Los ácidos grasos transferidos de las dos especies de zooplancton crustáceo a N. cara incluyen los mismos descritos más arriba y otros tres ácidos grasos poliinsaturados [20:3 (n–6), 20:5 (n–3) y 22:6 (n–3)] encontrados en concentraciones relativamente elevadas en ambos crustáceos. Además, tanto el 18:1 (n–9) (encontrado en elevadas concentraciones en M. norvegica) y los 18:0 y 18:2 (n–6) (encontrados en bajas concentraciones en ambas especies de crustáceos) se transfieren a N. cara. Los ácidos grasos demuestran ser una herramienta útil para identificar conexiones tróficas en N. caraA grant to MJY from the National Science Foundation (NSF-0002493), the European Project EUROGEL, and USDA CRIS Project FLA-FAS-03978 supported this workPeer reviewe

Corrosion Resistances of Iron-Based Amorphous Metals with Yttrium and Tungsten Additions in Hot Calcium Chloride Brine & Natural Seawater: Fe48Mo14Cr15Y2C15B6 and W-Containing Variants

Yttrium-containing SAM1651 (Fe{sub 48.0}Cr{sub 15.0}Mo{sub 14.0}B{sub 6.0}C{sub 15.0}Y{sub 2.0}), has a critical cooling rate (CCR) of approximately 80 Kelvin per second, while SAM2X5 (Fe{sub 49.7}Cr{sub 17.7}Mn{sub 1.9}Mo{sub 7.4}W{sub 1.6}B{sub 15.2}C{sub 3.8}Si{sub 2.4}) with no yttrium has a higher critical cooling rate of approximately 600 Kelvin per second. SAM1651's low CCR enables it to be rendered as a completely amorphous material in practical materials processes. Chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) provide corrosion resistance; boron (B) enables glass formation; and rare earths such as yttrium (Y) lower critical cooling rate (CCR). The passive film stability of these Fe-based amorphous metal formulations have been found to be superior to that of conventional stainless steels, and comparable to that of Ni-based alloys, based on electrochemical measurements of the passive film breakdown potential and general corrosion rates

Corrosion Resistances of Iron-Based Amorphous Metals with Yttrium and Tungsten Additions in Hot Calcium Chloride Brine & Natural Seawater: Fe48Mo14CR15Y2C15B6 and Variants

The passive film stability of several Fe-based amorphous metal formulations have been found to be comparable to that of stainless steels and Ni-based Alloy C-22 (UNS No. N06022), based on electrochemical measurements of the passive film breakdown potential and general corrosion rates. Electrochemical studies of the passive film stability of SAM1651 are reported here. Chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) provide corrosion resistance; boron (B) enables glass formation; and rare earths such as yttrium (Y) lower critical cooling rate (CCR). Yttrium-containing SAM1651, also known as SAM7 (Fe{sub 48.0}Cr{sub 15.0}Mo{sub 14.0}B{sub 6.0}C{sub 15.0}Y{sub 2.0}), has a critical cooling rate (CCR) of approximately 80 Kelvin per second, while yttrium-free SAM2X5 (Fe{sub 49.7}Cr{sub 17.7}Mn{sub 1.9}Mo{sub 7.4}W{sub 1.6}B{sub 15.2}C{sub 3.8}Si{sub 2.4}) has a higher critical cooling rate of approximately 600 Kelvin per second. SAM1651's low CCR enables it to be rendered as a completely amorphous material in practical materials processes. While the yttrium enables a low CCR to be achieved, it makes the material relatively difficult to atomize, due to increases in melt viscosity. Consequently, the powders have irregular shape, which makes pneumatic conveyance during thermal spray deposition difficult. The reference material, nickel-based Alloy C-22, is an outstanding corrosion-resistant engineering material. Even so, crevice corrosion has been observed with C-22 in hot sodium chloride environments without buffer or inhibitor. SAM1651 may also experience crevice corrosion under sufficiently harsh conditions. Both Alloy C-22 and Type 316L stainless lose their resistance to corrosion during thermal spraying, due to the formation of deleterious intermetallic phases which depletes the matrix of key alloy elements, whereas SAM1651 can be applied as coatings with the same corrosion resistance as a fully-dense completely amorphous melt-spun ribbon, provided that its amorphous nature is preserved during thermal spraying. Materials synthesis and characterization is discussed. Data showing the corrosion resistance of SAM1651 in hot concentrated calcium chloride, as well as natural seawater are presented, and compared to a number of reference materials

Expression in Aneuploid Drosophila S2 Cells

Analysis of the relationship between gene copy number and gene expression in aneuploid male Drosophila cells reveals a global compensation mechanism in addition to X chromosome-specific dosage compensation

Intracerebral Human Regulatory T Cells: Analysis of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T Cells in Brain Lesions and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Impaired suppressive capacity of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) from peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported by multiple laboratories. It is, however, currently unresolved whether Treg dysfunction in MS patients is limited to reduced control of peripheral T cell activation since most studies analyzed peripheral blood samples only. Here, we assessed early active MS lesions in brain biopsies obtained from 16 patients with MS by FOXP3 immunohistochemistry. In addition, we used six-color flow cytometry to determine numbers of Treg by analysis of FOXP3/CD127 expression in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 17 treatment-naïve MS patients as well as quantities of apoptosis sensitive CD45ROhiCD95hi cells in circulating and CSF Treg subsets. Absolute numbers of FOXP3+ and CD4+ cells were rather low in MS brain lesions and Treg were not detectable in 30% of MS biopsies despite the presence of CD4+ cell infiltrates. In contrast, Treg were detectable in all CSF samples and Treg with a CD45ROhiCD95hi phenotype previously shown to be highly apoptosis sensitive were found to be enriched in the CSF compared to peripheral blood of MS patients. We suggest a hypothetical model of intracerebral elimination of Treg by CD95L-mediated apoptosis within the MS lesion

The Sound of Vienna. The Acoustic Reorganization of Public Space

During the second half of the nineteenth century a heightened sensitivity for the acoustic environment can be clearly observed in European cities. In a context of expanding urbanization and industrialization, urban sound spheres radically changed. The article describes this change in the fast expanding metropolis Vienna from 1850 to 1914. It examines the new acoustic conditions in public space and analyses their social and cultural background: an increasing loss of silence, especially in the night, a new perception of church bells, the sounds of the electric streetcars percieved as essential urban noise, the acoustic competition of animals and machines, the disappearance of street vendors and street musicians. As urban space had become increasingly packed and crowded, behavior was more and more subjected to regulating and disciplining measures which also had repercussions on the acoustic perception of urban environment. A new auditory culture emerged which was highly influenced by middle-class concepts. The street changed from a living space to a traffic zone, serving road users only. More and more animal and social sounds were out of place. The roar of the machines pushed them away.During the second half of the nineteenth century a heightened sensitivity for the acoustic environment can be clearly observed in European cities. In a context of expanding urbanization and industrialization, urban sound spheres radically changed. The article describes this change in the fast expanding metropolis Vienna from 1850 to 1914. It examines the new acoustic conditions in public space and analyses their social and cultural background: an increasing loss of silence, especially in the night, a new perception of church bells, the sounds of the electric streetcars percieved as essential urban noise, the acoustic competition of animals and machines, the disappearance of street vendors and street musicians. As urban space had become increasingly packed and crowded, behavior was more and more subjected to regulating and disciplining measures which also had repercussions on the acoustic perception of urban environment. A new auditory culture emerged which was highly influenced by middle-class concepts. The street changed from a living space to a traffic zone, serving road users only. More and more animal and social sounds were out of place. The roar of the machines pushed them away

Die synchronisierte Stadt

The work at hand explores the successive chronometrisation of public space using the example of Viennas public clocks from the middle of the 19th century until today.The need for knowing the exact time steadily increased since the middle of the 19th century. As two centuries ago the clocks had only hour hands, the minute hands soon became essential. Industrialisation, urbanisation, but primarily the rapid development of the railroading promoted the trend towards the modern time management of the society. Schedules demanded a higher precision of time specification; circulations of goods and persons had to be adjusted to each other; professional and private activities became standardised, tacted and adjusted to the abstract rhythm of the clocks. The knowledge about the social and economic value of time became a central criterion for the level of western civilisation. Especially the members of the middle-class got more and more used to a chronometer. It was a high goodness for them to use their time as efficient as possible. Pocket watches and wrist watches became familiar and also the number of public clocks continously increased. Especially the more and more complex organised cities became pioneers in the sphere of public timepiece. The work at hand explores, for the first time in the German-speaking historical research, the successive chronometrisation of public space using the example of Vienna from the middle of the 19th century until today. On the one hand it deals with the “exterior chronometrisation“, that is the visible aggregation of the infrastructure of time and the construction of different kinds of clocks. Spatial, architectural and design related aspects were argued, contexts of technical history as the search for the ideal drive system and of the political and representative functions of public clocks were discussed. On the other hand it deals with the “interior chronometrisation“ which means social, psychological and cultural aspects of the perception of time and their contextualisation in phenomena of scaling and standardisation on a local basis to a world scale. The actual trend of visualising public time to the split second marks the (temporary) end of the development which shows the speedup of all areas of life in a visible and sensible way.Das vorliegende Werk beleuchtet das vielschichtige Wechselverhältnis von Stadt und Zeit. Ursachen und Auswirkungen der urbanen „Chronometrisierung“ werden am Beispiel der öffentlichen Uhren Wiens von der Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts bis heute dargestellt