Increased expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANKL), macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), presence of TNF alpha, IL-1, IL-6, IL-7, IL-17 influences pathological loss of bone mass.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an important risk factor
of generalised osteoporosis and fractures, involved in FRAX (fracture risk assessment) algorythm. Generalised osteoporosis in patients with RA has a multifactorial aetiology. Its development reflects effects of both: factors linked to the disease (presence of proinflammatory cytokines, disability of the patients, applied therapy) and classical risk factors of osteoporosis (e. g. advanced age, sex, post-menopausal period, genetic predisposition, low peak bone mass, low body weight, deficiency of calcium and vitamin D, tobacco smoking).”
“Physicochemical
analyses of polluted soils are selleck products limited in their ability to determine all hazardous compounds, their bioavailability, and their combined effects on living organisms. Bioassays, on the other hand, can evaluate environmental quality more accurately. This study assesses the genotoxic potential of water extracts from soil polluted with metals (Pb, Cd, and Zn) by the former lead smelter in Zerjav, Slovenia using comet assay with Tetrahymena thermophila and human hepatoma cells (HepG2). In addition, the toxicity of soil samples and their extracts was evaluated using Vibrio fischeri and delayed fluorescence of Lemna minor. Chemical analyses of metals using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) was performed for comparison. Measurements of the total metal concentrations showed R788 that four click here of five plots near the former lead smelter were highly contaminated with Pb, Cd, and Zn, but the amount of metals in water/soil extracts was low at all the sampling plots.
Genotoxicity was demonstrated using T thermophila for the majority of the extracts, and HepG2 cells for only some of the extracts. Whereas V fischeri indicated a gradual decrease in soil toxicity with greater distance from the smelter, the toxicity of extracts did not correlate with proximity. Low concentrations of metals in water extracts stimulated L. minor growth. The results indicate that comet assay with T thermophila and HepG2 cells and the BSPT with V fischeri are suitable protocols for screening the genotoxic and toxic potential of water/soil extracts by comet assay, whereas chemical analyses of total metal concentrations in soil do not solely suffice for evaluating metal pollution in the environment. Biological assays are thus crucial for risk assessment. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 24: 472-483, 2009.”
“Objective: The treatment of nasopharyngeal stenosis is challenging because of a high incidence of recurrence after surgical correction. Therefore, many treatment modalities are being tried to cure this problem.