UNLABELLED: PURPOSE/METHODS/PATIENTS: Calcitonin is a common treatment in patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 (CRPS I), although its effects are being controversially discussed. In a prospective study of 24 patients with CRPS I of the upper limb, we examined the tolerance of daily doses of 0.5 mg human calcitonin administered subcutaneously over 8 weeks. To assess the benefit of this therapy, the patients were clinically examined every second week. The results were compared to a consecutive group of 25 CRPS 1 patients who received only analgetics and physiotherapy. RESULTS: With regard to all examined parameters (spontaneous pain, grip strength, edema, hand function, systematic temperature difference), the patients treated with calcitonin showed an improvement during the observation time. However, a statistically significant difference to the control group was calculated only for the reduction of the edema (P < 0.01). 83% (20/24 patients) of the calcitonin-treated patients suffered from severe, mostly gastroenterological side-effects. Hence therapy had to be discontinued in 3 cases (13%). CONCLUSION: The therapy with calcitonin has the burden of numerous unpleasant side-effects and causes only a slight therapeutic improvement. Thus, calcitonin must only be prescribed with reservations for patients suffering from CRPS I.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of transforming growth factor beta1 on bonelike tissue formation in three-dimensional cell culture. I. Culture conditions and tissue formation.

Bone tissue engineering based on growing bone marrow stromal cells on poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) fiber meshes suffers from limited matrix production and mineralization when the cells are cultured with the standard differentiation supplements (dexamethasone, beta-glycerophosphate, and ascorbic acid). To overcome this problem we included transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), which is described as playing a key role in collagen type I formation, although its effect on mineralization is controversially discussed. The investigations focused on establishing culture conditions for the application of TGF-beta1 in three-dimensional cell culture and on the effects of different doses of TGF-beta1 (1-20 ng/mL) on bonelike extracellular matrix formation. Immunohistochemical staining showed that TGF-beta1 enhanced the formation of procollagen type I, collagen type I, and collagen type V, especially under dynamic culture conditions (orbital shaker). A long-term study confirmed positive effects on the formation of extracellular matrix, which penetrated the scaffold to a depth of 250 to 300 microm. Mineralization, qualified by scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and evaluated by determination of the Ca2+ content per scaffold, was up to 1.7-fold increased by TGF-beta1 compared with the control. In conclusion, the growth factor TGF-beta1 seems to be effective in improving extracellular bonelike matrix formation in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of transforming growth factor beta1 on bonelike tissue formation in three-dimensional cell culture. II: Osteoblastic differentiation.

We supplemented rat marrow stromal cells (rMSCs) seeded on poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) fiber meshes with transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) to improve bone tissue formation for tissue engineering. Whereas our first study (Lieb, E., et al. Tissue Eng. 10, 1399-1413, 2004) investigated the effects of TGF-beta1 on matrix formation and mineralization, this second study focused on the differentiation of rMSCs to the osteoblastic phenotype in dynamic cell culture (orbital shaker). We assessed a series of bone markers to determine a dosing regimen for TGF-beta1 that enhances collagenous matrix formation and preserves or increases osteoblastic differentiation. Bone sialoprotein and osteonectin formation were investigated immunohistochemically and by RT-PCR. For alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), we employed an enzyme assay. Osteocalcin was examined by RT-PCR as well as by an immunoassay. Whereas bone sialoprotein appeared to be dose-dependently increased in the immunochemistical stainings after supplementation with TGF-beta1, osteonectin remained unchanged. Both ALP activity and osteocalcin were suppressed by high doses of TGF-beta1, such as single doses of 10 ng/mL or four doses of 1 ng/mL added once a week. Considering the effects of TGF-beta1 both on differentiation and on matrix formation and mineralization, TGF-beta1 at 1 ng/mL, added once a week in the first 1 to 2 weeks, was selected as an effective dose to improve bonelike tissue formation in vitro.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhanced metabolism of normolipidemic human plasma very low density lipoprotein in cultured cells by exogenous apolipoprotein E-3.

In this investigation in cultured human fibroblasts, an attempt was made to determine the optimal metabolism of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 lipoproteins from normolipidemic human subjects. We supplemented culture systems containing 125I-lipoproteins with exogenous recombinant or plasmatic apo E-3. Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions I, II, and III, and low density lipoproteins (LDL) were prepared from one E 4/3 and four E 3/3 subjects. Without added apo E-3, cellular metabolism (binding, cell association, and degradation) of VLDL-I, II, and III was negligible. Exogenous apo E-3 caused a many-fold enhancement of the metabolism of the three VLDL fractions, but LDL was not affected. The effects of apo E-3 were specific, not observed with apo E-2, and not observed on receptor-negative cells. Exogenous apo E-3 also enhanced down-regulation of cellular sterol synthesis by the VLDLs, but not LDL, indicating increased particle catabolism by the cells. The optimal concentrations of exogenous apo E-3 were 4 to 6 micrograms protein/15 micrograms VLDL-protein, when most of the added apo E-3 became associated with the VLDL particles. Apo E-3 failed to associate with LDL. These results demonstrate that availability and association of adequate amounts of apo E-3 are crucial for optimal cellular metabolism of apo B-100 lipoproteins along the VLDL----LDL cascade.

Apolipoprotein E3↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Otorhinolaryngologic manifestations in patients infected by the acquired immunodeficiency virus].

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection often present signs and symptoms referable to the head and neck. We reviewed the clinical histories of 110 HIV-positive patients who presented head and neck manifestations. 48 (43.6%) had head and neck signs and/or symptoms as initial manifestation of the syndrome. 40 (36.3%) had oral candidiasis, 18 (16.36%) Kaposi's sarcoma, 11 (10%) herpes, 5 (4.5%) hairy leucoplakia and 4 (3.6%) lymphoma.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗