Extracellular Vesicles in the Synovial Joint: Is there a Role in the Pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis?

@#The role of extracellular vesicles (EV) in osteoarthritis has become the focus of much research. These vesicles were isolated from several cell types found in synovial joint including chondrocytes and synovium. As articular cartilage is an avascular tissue surrounded by synovial fluid, it is believed that EV might play a crucial role in the homeostasis of cartilage and also could hold key information in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. This is thought to be due to activation of pro-inflammatory factors leading to a catabolic state and degradation of cartilage. In addition, due to the nature of articular cartilage lacking neuronal innervation, knowledge of EV can contribute to identification of novel biomarkers in this debilitating condition. This can be either directly isolated from aspirate of synovial fluid or from peripheral blood. Finally, EVs are known to shuttle important signalling molecules which can be utilised as unique modality in transferring therapeutic compounds in a cell free manner.

Health care importance of Treponema pallidum, Chagas' disease and Human immunodeficiency virus 1 among Amerindians of Argentina: an observational study / Importancia en el sistema de salud de la infección por Treponema pallidum, la enfermedad de Chagas y el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana 1 en amerindios de Argentina: un estudio observacional

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Treponema pallidum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in five Amerindian populations of Argentina. A retrospective study was conducted among 857 Amerindian populations (112 Kollas, 298 Mbyá-guaraníes, 79 Sagua Huarpes, 368 Wichis) from 2007 to 2010. Screening and confirmation of T. pallidum, T. cruzi and HIV-1 were performed. T. pallidum and T. cruzi infections were detected in all communities with an overall prevalence rate of 4.2% and 16.8%, respectively. Although HIV was not detected, syphilis and Chagas' disease represent a challenge for the health care system and the reinforcement of public health strategies is necessary considering the socioeconomic isolation of these populations.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la prevalencia de Treponema pallidum, Trypanosoma cruzi y virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (HIV-1) en 5 comunidades originarias de Argentina. Para ello, se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en 857 individuos (112 kollas, 298 mbyá-guaraníes, 79 sagua huarpes, 368 wichis) desde el 2007 hasta el 2010. Se realizó el diagnóstico completo para T. pallidum, T. cruzi y HIV-1. En todas las comunidades se confirmaron infecciones por T. pallidum y T. cruzi con una prevalencia total del 4,2 y del 16,8%, respectivamente. Aunque no se detectó HIV-1, sífilis y Chagas, representan un desafío para el sistema de salud, teniendo que reforzarse las estrategias de salud pública teniendo en cuenta el aislamiento socio-económico que sufren estas poblaciones.

Análisis de las características clínicas y anatomopatológicas asociadas al HER-2/neu en cáncer de mama primariamente operable con técnica de inmunohistoquímica en una población hospitalaria / Analysis of the association between clinical and pathological features of breast cancer and HER-2/neu operable primarily, evaluated by inmunohitochemistry in a hospital population

Objetivo: describir la asociación entre las características clínicas y anatomopatológicas del cáncer de mama primariamente operable y el HER-2/neu evaluado por inmunohistoquímica. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo. Se evaluó la edad, tamaño tumoral, grado histológico, ganglios axilares, RE, RP y el estado del HER-2/neu en pacientes con diagnóstico de carcinoma invasivo primariamente operables del Servicio de Ginecología del Hospital Ramón Madariaga de Posadas, Misiones, comprendido entre enero de 2007 y 30 de agosto del 2012. Con un total de 95 pacientes, se comparó características clínicas y anatomopatológicas de los tumores con relación al estado del HER-2. Resultados: los receptores hormonales negativos fueron más frecuentemente HER-2/neu positivos, tanto para los RE (75,00% vs. 23,25%) como para RP (73,07% vs. 25,58%). En el análisis multivariado, el RE se asoció como predicción en forma independiente del HER-2/neu. Conclusiones: en el análisis multivariado el estado del receptor de estrógeno resultó predicción independiente de la sobreexpresión del HER-2/neu, no así el receptor de progesterona, el tamaño tumoral, los ganglios linfáticos y la edad. En el aná- lisis univariado RE y RP se asociaron negativamente a la sobreexpresión del HER-2/neu.

Activity of 5-chloro-pyrazinamide in mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis.

Background & objectives: Pyrazinamide is an essential component of first line anti-tuberculosis regimen as well as most of the second line regimens. This drug has a unique sterilizing activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its unique role in tuberculosis treatment has lead to the search and development of its structural analogues. One such analogue is 5-chloro-pyrazinamide (5-Cl-PZA) that has been tested under in vitro conditions against M. tuberculosis. The present study was designed with an aim to assess the activity of 5-Cl-PZA, alone and in combination with first-line drugs, against murine tuberculosis. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 5-Cl-PZA in Middlebrook 7H9 broth (neutral pH) and the inhibitory titre of serum from mice that received a 300 mg/kg oral dose of 5-Cl-PZA 30 min before cardiac puncture were determined. To test the tolerability of orally administered 5-Cl-PZA, uninfected mice received doses up to 300 mg/kg for 2 wk. Four weeks after low-dose aerosol infection either with M. tuberculosis or M. bovis, mice were treated 5 days/wk with 5-Cl-PZA, at doses ranging from 37.5 to 150 mg/kg, either alone or in combination with isoniazid and rifampicin. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by colony-forming unit counts in lungs after 4 and 8 wk of treatment. Results: The MIC of 5-Cl-PZA against M. tuberculosis was between 12.5 and 25 μg/ml and the serum inhibitory titre was 1:4. Under the same experimental conditions, the MIC of pyrazinamide was >100 μg/ml and mouse serum had no inhibitory activity after a 300 mg/kg dose; 5-Cl-PZA was well tolerated in uninfected and infected mice up to 300 and 150 mg/kg, respectively. While PZA alone and in combination exhibited its usual antimicrobial activity in mice infected with M. tuberculosis and no activity in mice infected with M. bovis, 5-Cl-PZA exhibited antimicrobial activity neither in mice infected with M. tuberculosis nor in mice infected with M. bovis. Interpretation & conclusion: Our findings showed that 5-Cl-PZA at doses up to 150 mg/kg was not active in chronic murine TB model. Further studies need to be done to understand the mechanism and mode of inactivation in murine model of tuberculosis.

The Prevalence of Oral Habits Among 4 to 15 year Old School Children in Lagos

Objective: To provide information regarding the prevalence of oral habits among a group of Nigerian children. Study Design : This is cross-sectional study of 928 children; 431 males and 497 females aged 4 to 15 years from both rural and urban areas of Lagos State in Nigeria. Habits assessed included digit; lip and tongue habits. Results: Thirty four point one per cent of the children examined presented with an oral habit. Of these; digit sucking was the most frequently occurring; seen in 50 of the children with oral habits. Tongue and lip habits occurred in 27 and 23 of children respectively. There was observed a steady decrease in oral habits with an increase in age. The prevalence being highest among 4 to 5 year olds (44.2) and gradually decreasing to 11.8 among the 14 to 15 year age group. Oral habits were found to be slightly more common among males than females; though this finding was not significant. Socio-economic status (SES) was found to have a significant effect on the occurrence of oral habits. Forty eight per cent of all children of high SES engaged in an oral habit; whereas this was observed in only 24.4of all children of low SES. Conclusion : The findings of this study indicate that there is an increased prevalence of oral habits among children in the population in recent times. The occurrence of these habits is more frequently seen in children from families of high socio-economic status

In vitro fertilization. The Jamaican experience

In June 2000, twenty-eight infertile couples were treated by in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer at our initial assisted reproduction programme carried out in conjunction with Midland Fertility Services, Aldridge, Birmingham, England. A pre-requisite for treatment was that on day 3 of the menstrual cycle the levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol (E2) should be < 10 i mu/l and < 100 pg/ml respectively in the female partner. The ages of the women ranged from 26 to 42 years with a mean age of 35.5 years. Down regulation was carried out by using buserelin acetate 0.5 microgram subcutaneously from day 21 of the cycle for 21 days. This process was completed when the ovaries and pituitary gland were quiescent and the endometrial thickness < 4 mm in diameter. On completion of down regulation the gonadotrophin hormone, pergonal (dosage of 150-450 units) was used for ovarian hyperstimulation. A total of 294 oocytes (mean of 10.5, range 2-45) were retrieved of which 138 were fertilized (mean of 4.9, range of 0-28). Twenty-four patients each received a mean of two embryos. Five patients (20.8) had positive pregnancy tests. Three patients (0.1) developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), one had the severe, and two, the mild form of the syndrome. All three cases were treated successfully. The success at the initial IVF controlled ovarian hyperstimulation augers well for the future of infertile couples seeking treatment at the Fertility Management Unit, The University of the West Indies, Jamaica.

Comparison of anthropometric data of school going children in Freetown with the United States National Center Statistics (NCHS)

The anthropometric measurements of all children between 3-10 years of age (n=1427) attending eight private primary schools in Freetown were recorded together with accurate dates of birth. This was done to compare the anthropometric measurements of well nourished children in Sierra Leone to the NCHS references. The results of weight/age; height/age and weight/height showed no statistically significant variation from the NCHS values for children of the same age and sex. The sample population adequately represented the major and some minor ethnical groups of Sierra Leonean population. It is concluded therefore that in those populations in Sierra Leone where the children do vary significantly from the NCHS; this difference in their growth potential may be explained by environmental factors rather than ethnic differences from American children