Aims. This study explored the shared genetic traits and molecular interactions between postmenopausal osteoporosis (POMP) and sarcopenia, both of which substantially degrade elderly health and quality of life. We hypothesized that these motor system diseases overlap in pathophysiology and regulatory mechanisms. Methods. We analyzed microarray data from the
Treatment of segmental bone defects remains a major clinical problem, and innovative strategies are often necessary to successfully reconstruct large volumes of bone. When fractures occur, the resulting hematoma serves as a reservoir for growth factors and a space for cell infiltration, both crucial to the initiation of bone healing. Our previous studies have demonstrated very clear ultrastructural differences between fracture hematomas formed in normally healing fractures and those formed in segmental bone defects. However, there is little information available regarding potential differences in the underlying
Aim. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the in vivo expression of virulence and metabolic
The superficial zone (SFZ) of articular cartilage has unique structural and biomechanical features, and is important for joint long-term function. Previous studies have shown that TGF-β/Alk5 signaling upregulating PRG4 expression maintains articular cartilage homeostasis. However, the exact role and molecular mechanism of TGF-β signaling in SFZ of articular cartilage homeostasis are still lacking. In this study, a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches were used to elucidate the role of Alk5 signaling in maintaining the SFZ of articular cartilage and preventing osteoarthritis initiation. Mice with inducible cartilage SFZ-specific deletion of Alk5 were generated to assess the role of Alk5 in OA development. Alterations in cartilage structure were evaluated histologically. The chondrocyte apoptosis and cell cycle were detected by TUNEL and Edu staining, respectively. Isolation, culture and treatment of SFZ cells, the expressions of
Aim. Previous studies have indicated that TNF-α and lymphotoxin-α (LTA)
Staphylococcus aureus
Purpose. Vitamin D is a key regulator of bone homeostasis. The enzyme CYP24A1 is responsible for transforming vitamin D into 24,25(OH)2vitD. The putative biological activity of 24,25(OH)2vitD remains unclear. Previous studies showed an increase in the circulating levels of this metabolite following a fracture in chicks. Our laboratory has engineered a mouse model deficient for the Cyp24a1
Aim. Previous studies had indicated that interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)
Aim. Although there are no treatment guidelines for Propionibacterium acnes (PA) bone and joint infections (Corvec et al Acta Orthopedica 2016), these infections can be treated with a combination of fluoroquinolones and rifampicin. Rifampicin resistance have already been reported either in in vitro selected mutants or clinical isolates (Furustrand et al JAC 2013, Anaerobe 2015). Minimal inhibitory concentrations of levofloxacin (LVX) ranging from 0,12 to 0.5mg/L are regularly observed but resistance has not yet been investigated. We investigated the in vitro emergence of LVX resistance and characterized the mutations involved in gyrA
Purpose. Traumatic articular cartilage (AC) defects are common in young adults and frequently progresses to osteoarthritis. Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI) is a recent advancement in cartilage resurfacing techniques and is a variant of ACI, which is considered by some surgeons to be the gold standard in AC regeneration. MACI involves embedding cultured chondrocytes into a scaffold that is then surgically implanted into an AC defect. Unfortunately, chondrocytes cultured in a normoxic environment (conventional technique) tend to de-differentiate resulting in decreased collagen II and increased collagen I producing in a fibrocartilagous repair tissue that is biomechanically inferior to AC and incapable of withstanding physiologic loads over prolonged periods. The optimum conditions for maintenance of chondrocyte phenotype remain elusive. Normal oxygen tension within AC is <7%. We hypothesized that hypoxic conditions would induce
Aim. The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) remains a serious clinical challenge. Nowadays, limited biomarkers associated with PJI are available. We investigated therefore the utility of
A randomised controlled trial was conducted using a rabbit model of a complex contaminated extremity war wound. Compared to saline soaked gauze dressings Inadine (iodine) and Acticoat (nanocrystalline silver) had significantly lower levels of Staphylococcus aureus after 7 days while Activon Tulle (Manuka honey) had significantly higher levels. Molecular level analysis of the wound was conducted. Plasma cytokines of interest were assayed using ELISA and levels of expression of relevant tissue
Background. Current treatments for the prevention of thromboembolism include heparin and low-molecular weight heparins (LMWHs). A number of studies have suggested that long term administration of these drugs may adversely affect osteoblasts and therefore, bone metabolism. Xarelto(tm) (Rivaroxaban) is a new anti-thrombotic drug for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in adult patients undergoing elective hip and knee replacement surgery. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the possible effects of rivaroxaban on osteoblast proliferation, function, matrix mineralisation and
The bioactive polyetheretherketone (PEEK) was fabricated by the combination of PEEK and CaO-SiO. 2. particles, which formed hydroxyapatite on its surfaces in simulated body fluid and showed good mechanical propeties. The study revealed osteoblast-like cell proliferation and
Aim. S. aureus and S. epidermidis remain the leading biofilm-forming agents causing orthopedic implant-associated infections (OIAI), but other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) with clinical importance is emerging. Besides, few studies have assessed specific genomic traits associated with patient outcome. This is a preliminary descriptive study of phenotypic and genomic features identified in clinical isolates of S. aureus and CoNS isolates recovered from OIAIs patients that progressed to treatment failure. Methods. Ten isolates were identified by matrix-time-of-flight laser-assisted desorption mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and tested for antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm formation. Genotypic characteristics, including, MLST (Multi Locus Sequence Typing), SCCmec typing, virulence and resistance
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease of the synovial joint with synovial inflammation, capsular contracture, articular cartilage degradation, subchondral sclerosis and osteophyte formation contributing to pain and disability. Transcriptomic datasets have identified genetic loci in hip and knee OA demonstrating joint specificity. A limited number of studies have directly investigated transcriptional changes in shoulder OA. Further,
Aim. The aim of our study was to analyze putative
Aim. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is commonly associated with serious cases of community-onset skin and musculoskeletal infections (Co-SMSI). Molecular epidemiology analysis of CA-MRSA recovered from skin and soft tissues specimens is lacking in Latin America. This study aimed to identify phenotypic and genotypic features of MRSA isolates recovered from patients presenting Co-SMSI. Methods. Consecutive MRSA isolates recovered from Co-SMSI of patients admitted from March 2022 to January 2023 in a Brazilian teaching hospital were tested for antimicrobial resistance and characterized by their genotypic features. Identification was carried out by automated method and through MALDI-TOF MS. Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion, broth microdilution and E-test strips for determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) according to recommendations from the Brazilian Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (BrCAST) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST).
Non-invasive sampling of tumor-derived genetic material in circulation through liquid biopsy may be very beneficial for an accurate diagnosis and evaluation of response to treatment in patients with malignant and benign soft tissue tumors. We previously showed that tumor-derived genomic aberrations can be detected in plasma of patients with leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and leiomyoma (LM). In LMS patients, we also showed that the levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) correspond with response to treatment. We developed an approach tailored to genomic profile of LMS (characterized by intermediate levels of point mutations and copy number alterations, CNAs). Based on TCGA data, we designed a panel of 89 most frequently mutated
The poor prognosis of patients with soft-tissue sarcoma as not changed in the past several decades, highlighting the necessity for new therapeutic approaches. T-cell based immunotherapies are a promising alternative to traditional cancer treatments due to their ability to target only malignant cells, leaving benign cells unharmed. The development of successful immunotherapy requires the identification and characterization of targetable immunogenic tumor antigens. Cancer-testis antigens (CTA) are a group of highly immunogenic tumor-associated proteins that have emerged as potential targets for CD8+ T-cell recognition. In addition to identifying a targetable antigen, it is crucial to understand the tumor immune microenvironment. The level of immune infiltration and mechanisms of immune suppression within the tumor play important roles in the outcome of immunotherapy. The goal of this study is to identify targetable immunogenic antigens for T-cell based immunotherapy and to characterize the tumor immune microenvironment in human dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS) by Nanostring and IHC. To assess the complexity of the human DDLS tumor immune microenvironment and to identify target antigens we used the nCounter NanoString platform to generate a