The beneficial effect of hydroxyapatite lasts: A randomized radiostereometric trial comparing hydroxyapatite-coated, uncoated, and cemented tibial components for up to 16 years

Analysis and Stochastic

Radiostereometry and new prostheses

Optimising joint reconstruction management in arthritis and bone tumour patient

Gender and line size factors modulate the deviations of the subjective visual vertical induced by head tilt

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The subjective visual vertical (SVV, the visual estimation of gravitational direction) is commonly considered as an indicator of the sense of orientation. The present study examined the impact of two methodological factors (the angle size of the stimulus and the participant's gender) on deviations of the SVV caused by head tilt. Forty healthy participants (20 men and 20 women) were asked to make visual vertical adjustments of a light bar with their head held vertically or roll-tilted by 30° to the left or to the right. Line angle sizes of 0.95° and 18.92° were presented.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The SVV tended to move in the direction of head tilt in women but away from the direction of head tilt in men. Moreover, the head-tilt effect was also modulated by the stimulus' angle size. The large angle size led to deviations in the direction of head-tilt, whereas the small angle size had the opposite effect.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results showed that gender and line angle size have an impact on the evaluation of the SVV. These findings must be taken into account in the growing body of research that uses the SVV paradigm in disease settings. Moreover, this methodological issue may explain (at least in part) the discrepancies found in the literature on the head-tilt effect.</p

Atiprimod blocks STAT3 phosphorylation and induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells

Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for 1 % of all cancer deaths. Although treated aggressively, almost all myelomas eventually recur and become resistant to treatment. Atiprimod (2-(3-Diethylaminopropyl)-8,8-dipropyl-2-azaspiro[4,5] decane dimaleate) has exerted anti-inflammatory activities and inhibited oeteoclast-induced bone resorption in animal models and been well tolerated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in phase I clinical trials. Therefore, we investigated its activity in MM cells and its mechanism of action. We found that Atiprimod inhibited proliferation of the myeloma cell lines U266-B1, OCI-MY5, MM-1, and MM-1R in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Atiprimod blocked U266-B1 myeloma cells in the G0/G1 phase, preventing cell cycle progression. Furthermore, Atiprimod inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 activation, blocking the signalling pathway of interleukin-6, which contributes to myeloma cell proliferation and survival, and downregulated the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Mcl-1. Incubation of U266-B1 myeloma cells with Atiprimod induced apoptosis through the activation of caspase 3 and subsequent cleavage of the DNA repair enzyme poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase. Finally, Atiprimod suppressed myeloma colony-forming cell proliferation in fresh marrow cells from five patients with newly diagnosed MM in a dose-dependent fashion. These data suggest that Atiprimod has a role in future therapies for MM

Slow ultrafiltration for continuous in vivo sampling: application for glucose and lactate in man

Background: An ultrafiltration (UF) technique was developed for continuous subcutaneous (s.c.) sampling and on-line analysis of absolute glucose and lactate concentrations in tissue. The relation between subcutaneous and blood concentrations was studied in men, because a subcutaneous monitoring device would put patients on less risks than an intravascular device. Methods: Ultrafiltrates were withdrawn continuously at a flow rate of 50-100 nl/min from a hollow fibre probe to measure glucose in the abdominal subcutis. Six healthy volunteers underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. In order to detect glucose and lactate in the same sample, a splitter was placed between the on-line flow injection valve and the parallel enzymatic conversion and electrochemical detection cells. Findings: Subcutaneous glucose concentrations were in steady state on the average 1.06 mM lower. They rose delayed and blunted as compared to blood levels. We demonstrated the ability of simultaneous lactate and glucose measurements in vivo (n=2). Interpretation: UF makes continuous monitoring of absolute extracellular concentrations in tissue possible. We interpret the deviations of subcutaneous measurements from intravascular levels in this way that the subcutis is a kinetic compartment not directly and exclusively linked to blood. The observed differences with blood suggest that diabetes management may demand intravascular monitoring. UF combined with analysis of glucose and lactate in the same sample offers the opportunity to study pathophysiology inside tissues. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved