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Biomedical subjects

G L Klein

Publications and source records attributed to G L Klein.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Histomorphometric and biochemical characterization of bone following acute severe burns in children.

Severe burns in adults is associated with an uncoupling of normal remodeling, low bone formation without reduced resorption. The risk of osteopenia that may occur under such circumstances is heightened by our detection in a cross-sectional study of low bone mass in severely burned children. We report here the acute histomorphometric and biochemical response of bone to severe burn injury, as well as bone mass in severely burned children. We enrolled 24 patients ages 5.8 to 17.5 years following burns of 63 +/- 16% (SD) body surface area. Serum and urine were collected weekly until iliac crest bone biopsy was obtained 26 +/- 10 days postburn. Seventeen of 18 patients, including 5 patients receiving growth hormone treatment to accelerate wound healing, failed to take up doxycycline in trabecular bone, and had no detectable osteoblasts at the osteoid seam, while eroded surface was normal and osteoblasts were documented by staining. Thus, bone formation was virtually absent. There was an eightfold elevation in urinary free cortisol excretion and high serum levels of acute phase reactants and interleukin-1 beta and -6. Biochemical markers of bone formation, osteocalcin, and type I procollagen propeptide were low, as were resorptive markers urinary pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline. However, there was no correlation with resorptive surface. Mean age-related z-score for bone mass was -1.06 +/- 1.05, 40 days postburn. Immobilization and endogenous corticosteroid production may be the main factors responsible for acutely reduced bone formation while inflammatory cytokines may mediate resorption.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Long-term reduction in bone mass after severe burn injury in children.

OBJECTIVE: Because burn victims are at risk of having bone loss, a cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine whether severe burn injury had acute and long-term effects on bone mass or on the incidence of fractures in children. METHODS: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar portion of the spine was performed on 68 children: 16 moderately burned (15% to 36% of total body surface area) and 52 age-matched severely burned (> or = 40% of total body surface area). Twenty-two severely burned children were hospitalized and studied within 8 weeks of their burn, and 30 others were studied approximately 5 years after discharge. In the severely burned group, both hospitalized and discharged, serum and urine were analyzed for calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone, osteocalcin, and type I collagen telopeptide. RESULTS: Sixty percent of severely burned patients had age-related z scores for bone density less than -1, and 27% of severely burned patients had age-related z scores for bone density less than -2 (p < 0.005, for each). In the moderately burned group, 31% of patients had z scores less than -1 (p < 0.005 vs normal distribution), but only 6% had z scores less than -2 (p value not significant). There was evidence of increased incidence of fractures after discharge in the severely burned patients. Biochemical studies were compatible with a reduction in bone formation and an increase in resorption initially, and with a long-term persistence of low formation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that acute burn injury leads to profound and long-term bone loss, which may adversely affect peak bone mass accumulation.

Acute Disease↗

Aluminum in parenteral solutions revisited--again.

It has been a dozen years since aluminum was first shown to contaminate parenteral nutrition solutions and to be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of metabolic bone disease in parenteral nutrition patients as well as in uremic patients. However, there are no regulations in place to effectively reduce aluminum contamination of various parenterally administered nutrients, drugs, and biologic products. The purpose of this review is fourfold: 1) to summarize our knowledge of the adverse effects of aluminum on bone formation and mineralization in parenteral nutrition patients; 2) to discuss the possible role of aluminum in the osteopenic bone disease of preterm infants; 3) to show how lack of regulations covering aluminum content of parenteral solutions can lead to vulnerability of new groups of patients to aluminum toxicity, the example being given here is that of burn patients; and 4) to trace the development of efforts at regulating the aluminum contamination of large- and small-volume parenteral drug products and to point out what still needs to be done in this regard.

Aluminum↗

Total parenteral nutrition and its effects on bone metabolism.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may affect bone metabolism in a variety of ways. These may include potential indirect effects such as on gastrointestinal hormone secretion, liver function, especially cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, metabolic biorhythms where established, and the continuous compared with the intermittent supply of nutrients. More substantial evidence exists for the reduction of bone formation, parathyroid hormone secretion, and calcitriol production in TPN patients along with high urinary calcium excretion. This review considers both aluminum loading and vitamin D sensitivity as etiologic factors and suggests that aluminum may have played a primary role in the pathogenesis of these abnormalities in bone and mineral metabolism, but that vitamin D may have potentiated the deleterious actions of aluminum. While the sources of aluminum contamination of TPN solutions have been identified and efforts are under way to reduce its contamination of TPN solutions, the persistence of low bone mass measurement in TPN patients is a problem that has been identified repeatedly, does not have a current explanation, and requires further study.

Aluminum↗

Bone disease in burn patients.

Burn patients are at risk for bone disease due to aluminum (Al) exposure from use of antacids and albumin, partial immobilization, and increased production of endogenous glucocorticoids. Moreover, severely burned children are growth impaired up to 3 years after the burn. To determine the extent of bone disease, we studied nine men and three women, ages 18-41 years, with greater than 50% body surface area burn. Seven patients underwent iliac crest bone biopsy following double tetracycline labeling, one additional patient expired after a single label, and three others had postmortem specimens obtained for quantitative Al only. Serial serum and urine samples were obtained weekly until biopsy or death. All biopsied patients had reduced bone formation and osteoid area, surface, and width, with mineral apposition rate, osteoblast surface, and osteoclast number with normal eroded surfaces compared to age- and sex-matched normal ambulatory volunteers. Burn patients also had reduced bone formation, mineral apposition rate, osteoid area, and surface compared to age-matched volunteers at short-term bed rest. Serum levels of osteocalcin were low. Most patients had mild hypercalcemia but only a third had hypercalciuria. All patients had elevated Al in blood or urine; urine Al correlated inversely with serum osteocalcin. In 60% significant bone Al was detectable by stain or quantitation. Our data are compatible with burn patients having markedly reduced bone turnover. Al loading, partial immobilization, endogenous corticosteroids, and cytokine production may be among the etiologic factors.

Adolescent↗

Effects of aluminum on rat bone cell populations.

Aluminum (Al) loading is associated with reduced bone formation and osteomalacia in human and certain animal models. However, uncertainty exists as to the cellular effect(s) of Al as both inhibition and stimulation of osteoblast proliferation have been reported. Furthermore, the extent to which Al affects osteoprogenitor cell populations is unknown. To determine the cellular effects of Al in the rat, an animal model in which Al bone disease has been produced, we compared the in vitro effect of 10-50 microns Al on the proliferation and hydroxyproline collagen formation of marrow osteoprogenitor stromal cell populations and perinatal rat calvarial osteoblasts. In subconfluent cultures, Al suppressed proliferation of both marrow fibroblast-like stromal cells and calvarial osteoblasts. In confluent cultures, however, Al selectively stimulated periosteal fibroblast and osteoblast DNA synthesis and collagen (hydroxyproline) production, both in the presence or absence of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Osteocalcin was not detected in osteoblast-conditioned media or extracellular matrix. These observations suggest that the bone formation defect associated with Al toxicity in growing rats may be a function of impaired patterns of osteoprogenitor/osteoblast proliferation. Furthermore, the Al-stimulated increase in collagen formation is consistent with the development of osteomalacia in Al-toxic humans and animals. The mechanism by which Al stimulated DNA synthesis and collagen production in more mature cultures awaits further study.

Aluminum↗

Rat tail suspension causes a decline in insulin receptors.

Decreased muscular activity results in weakness and muscular atrophy. Coincident with this protein catabolic state is glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia. Rats were tail suspended for 7 to 14 days to accomplish unloading of the hindlimbs. Insulin resistance was documented in these animals by a 14 day tail suspension-related 26% increase in serum glucose in spite of a 253% increase in serum insulin concentration. Microsomal membranes were prepared from hindlimb muscles and specific binding of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were determined in these membranes. Insulin binding was decreased by 27% at 7 days and by 21% at 14 days. In contrast, IGF-I binding was unchanged at 7 days and was increased by 24% at 14 days. Liver membrane insulin receptors also had declined by 14 days of suspension, suggesting that the change in insulin receptors was a generalized, humorally-mediated phenomenon. These data suggest that tail suspension in rats results in insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, a decline in insulin receptors in liver and muscle, and a relative increase in muscle membrane IGF-I receptors. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that resistance to insulin's effects on protein metabolism in skeletal muscle may contribute to the protein catabolism associated with decreased muscular activity.

Animals↗

Increased biliary transferrin excretion following parenteral aluminium administration to rats.

Aluminium accumulates in the livers of patients receiving either parenteral nutrition or haemodialysis. When given parenterally to rats, aluminium causes cholestasis. However, the mechanism of hepatic aluminium uptake and the fate of aluminum in the liver are poorly understood. We examined the effect of parenteral aluminium administration on biliary excretion of transferrin, the major circulating aluminum-binding protein. Male Wistar rats were given parenterally aluminum 5 mg/kg/day for 1-14 days. Bile was collected for 3 hr at the end of the study period. Biliary total protein concentration and IgA/total protein were unaffected by up to 14 days of parenteral aluminium administration. However, biliary transferrin excretion increased with duration of aluminum administration up to five-fold by day 14. Biliary transferrin concentration and transferrin/total protein was higher in aluminum treated rats than controls after 7 and 14 days of study. Hepatic aluminum concentration reached a maximum after 4 days of parenteral aluminum administration, at which time serum bile acid and alanine amino transferase values were not different from controls. Since biliary transferrin is normally derived from the serum, it is likely that aluminum promotes hepatocellular uptake of transferrin and that aluminum enters the hepatocyte bound to transferrin. We postulate that transferrin may direct aluminum to intracellular sites where its toxic effects would be minimized.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Nutritional rickets: thoughts about pathogenesis.

The pathogenesis of nutritional rickets is not well-understood. While the etiologies include deficiencies of vitamin D, calcium (Ca) or phosphate (PO4), and perhaps aluminium toxicity, the role these nutrients play in the development of tissue level anomalies characteristic of rachitic cartilage and bone has yet to be defined. Reported alterations in the biochemistry of rachitic bone and cartilaginous matrix which could adversely affect mineralization and endochondral ossification are of questionable significance since the tissues mineralize rapidly when exposed to Ca and PO4 salts in vivo and in vitro. The low Ca and PO4 concentrations of the extracellular fluid (ECF) bathing rachitic cartilage and bone matrix suggest that local mechanisms operate to impair mineralization. In healing rickets, the Ca and PO4 content of these tissue fluids increases in the same time-frame it takes to experimentally remineralize the matrices. However, it is not certain what determines the Ca and PO4 content of the ECF. Cytokines which may play a role in the cellular regulation of Ca and PO4 and maintain processes which contribute to normal patterns of endochondral ossification could provide a mechanism common to the pathogenesis of rickets from a variety of causes.

Animals↗

Allergic rhinitis. Measures to control the misery.

Chronic fatigue, recurrent otitis and sinusitis, and poor performance at school or at work are among the many physical and psychosocial consequences of allergic rhinitis. Antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays may be used to treat many patients, but immunotherapy may be necessary or more practical in others. In all cases, control of the patient's home environment, particularly the bedroom, is essential.

Histamine Antagonists↗

Controlling allergies by controlling environment. A big help for your patients.

Control of the environment is a cost-effective method of limiting allergic reactions in susceptible people. For physicians working with allergic patients, this approach involves guiding the patient and family in ridding their home and surroundings of allergens and irritants. Dr. Klein discusses the environmental-control protocol, particularly in regard to dust mites, mold, pollen, and pets.

Air Conditioning↗

Partial characterization of rat marrow stromal cells.

Fibroblast-like rat marrow stromal cell (CFU-F) cultures have been characterized in terms of their responsiveness to calciotropic hormones, metal ions, the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug, and by their putative paracrine role in the maintenance of active populations of osteoblasts at the marrow-bone interface. These studies indicate that CFU-Fs lack a complete osteoblast signature. Subconfluent CFU-Fs grown in the presence or absence of 10(-7) M dexamethasone lack receptors for PTH and calcitonin, and fail to show enhanced cAMP or cGMP responses to 10(-7) M 1-34 PTH (rat), or any evidence of osteocalcin production [+/- 10(-9) M 1,25-(OH)2D3]. Low concentrations of fluoride [10(-12) and 10(-9) M] stimulated CFU-F grown in vitro in serum-free media, though higher levels (10(-7) and 10(-6) M), inhibited growth in vivo and in vitro. Aluminum (10(-12)-10(-7) M) and ibuprofen (10(-7) M) did not alter normal growth patterns, indicating an action on bone cells more differentiated than CFU-Fs. Serum-free conditioned medium (CM) from control and ovariectomized (OVX)/OVX+ dihydrotachysterol-Rx rat CFU-F cultures was mitogenic for neonatal rat calvarial osteoblasts in vitro, but not for ROS 17/2.8 cells. The studies affirm the mesenchymal-like character of CFU-Fs and project their significant role in sustaining functional endosteal osteogenic cell populations.

Animals↗

The aluminum content of parenteral solutions: current status.

Aluminum contaminates several chemical compounds that are administered intravenously to patients. The most highly contaminated are calcium and phosphate salts, followed by albumin and heparin. Parenteral administration of aluminum bypasses the gastrointestinal tract, which serves as a protective barrier to aluminum entry into the blood. In the past, parenteral administration of aluminum as a contaminant of water used in hemodialysis and of casein hydrolysate, the former source of protein in parenteral nutrition solutions, was associated with a low-turnover osteomalacic bone disease and, in the case of uremic patients, encephalopathy. Groups currently at risk for aluminum accumulation in tissue resulting from parenteral administration include premature infants receiving long-term parenteral nutrition and patients receiving plasmapheresis therapy with albumin. Both groups may develop metabolic bone disease; the pathogenesis may involve aluminum. The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering regulation of aluminum in fluids used for parenteral nutrition. No changes are presently proposed with regard to albumin.

Aluminum↗

Growth and the nutritional status of nonsteroid-dependent asthmatic children.

Nonsteroid dependent children were evaluated to determine the effect of asthma on growth and nutritional status. No significant differences were observed for the growth of asthmatics and control groups. In addition, dietary records indicated asthmatics met or exceeded the recommended daily allowance for total calories and nutrients.

Adolescent↗