Comparing human and mouse salivary glands: A practice guide for salivary researchers

Mice are a widely utilized in vivo model for translational salivary gland research but must be used with caution. Specifically, mouse salivary glands are similar in many ways to human salivary glands (i.e., in terms of their anatomy, histology, and physiology) and are both readily available and relatively easy and affordable to maintain. However, there are some significant differences between the two organisms, and by extension, the salivary glands derived from them must be taken into account for translational studies. The current review details pertinent similarities and differences between human and mouse salivary glands and offers practical guidelines for using both for research purposes.     

Acoustic measures of vocal stability during different speech tasks in young women using oral contraceptives: a retrospective study

Objectives To compare objective voice measures of vocal stability during different speech tasks in women taking oral contraceptives to those in women not taking oral contraceptives. Methods Voice recordings obtained from 28 women, aged 20-30 years old, were used for the study. Eighteen of the women were taking some form of oral contraception at the time of the recording (OC women); ten women were not taking any oral contraceptive medication (NOC women). Measures related to pitch, vocal stability, and loudness were obtained from sustained vowel and paragraph reading tasks. Results The OC women demonstrated significantly higher pitch levels but lower values related to measures of vocal stability. Conclusions The use of oral contraceptives appears to exert a positive influence upon vocal fold function. Women taking oral contraceptives demonstrate higher pitch levels and greater stability during phonation than do women not taking oral contraceptives. This improvement in vocal function is contributed to the more stable hormonal environment that occurs with the use of oral contraceptives.     

Osteomyelitis: detection with US

To evaluate the role of ultrasound (US) in the detection of osteomyelitis, the authors prospectively studied 48 patients clinically suspected of having osteomyelitis. A sonographic diagnosis was made if fluid was seen directly in contact with bone, without intervening soft tissues. Twelve of the 48 patients were subsequently found to have osteomyelitis. In 10 of them, US demonstrated abnormal fluid adjacent to the bone. This fluid was thought to represent an inflammatory exudate dissecting in a subperiosteal and/or extraperiosteal location. Eight of the 48 patients had soft-tissue fluid collections. The rest of the patients either had no abnormalities or had cellulitis. The authors conclude that US can be useful in the detection of osteomyelitis.     

应用5-ALA后银屑病皮损内PpⅨ荧光不均一性的免疫组化研究

研究发现银屑病皮损能够高度聚集原卟啉Ⅸ（PpⅨ，一种由5-ALA产生的内源性光源物质），但进行荧光诊断时却发现皮损内PpⅨ的分布存在差异，造成这种差异的原因目前尚不清楚。     

Diagnosis and treatment of excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint caused by military training

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint caused by military training. Methods: Fifteen patients (patient group) and 18 healthy volunteers (control group) were involved in this retrospective study. Radiographs of the knee joints of all patients and volunteers were taken. The bone architecture was assessed, the trochlear angle, coincidence angle and patellofemoral joint index measured in both groups, and the resulting data compared. All 15 patients (17 knees) were treated by lateral collateral retinaculum release. Pre‐ and post‐operative pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS). Results: The differences between the two groups in coincidence angle (patient group: 7.67°± 5.81°; control group: ?2.2°±?2.71°) and patellofemoral joint index (patient group: 2.49 ± 1.40; control group: 1.25 ± 0.15) were statistically significant. Subchondral bone sclerosis and osteophytosis in the patellofemoral joint were more pronounced in the patient group than in the control group. The VAS was higher preoperatively (7.06 ± 0.85) than postoperatively (6 months postoperatively: 3.87 ± 0.24; 1 year postoperatively: 3.01 ± 0.17), and the differences between preoperative and postoperative were statistically significant. Conclusions: Apart from the case history, typical symptoms and physical signs, X‐ray examination is the most basic way to diagnose excessive lateral pressure syndrome of the patellofemoral joint, and the patellofemoral joint index is the most reliable for diagnosis. Lateral collateral retinaculum release with a small‐incision is an effective treatment for this disease.     

Podocyte injury associated glomerulopathies induced by pamidronate

BACKGROUND: Pamidronate has been demonstrated to decrease bone-related complications in multiple myeloma and delay progression of the disease. This has led to its use in supportive and maintenance therapy of myeloma in conjunction with steroids and chemotherapy. It has also been selectively used in patients with breast cancer and other neoplasms. METHODS: We report on five patients who developed glomerular disease induced by pamidronate. Pamidronate was the only drug common to all patients. Tests for hepatitis B and C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were negative for all patients. The first two patients received a high dose of pamidronate for 8 weeks, whereas the other three patients were on monthly therapy for a prolonged period of time. Sources of data included chart review and pathologic analysis of kidney biopsy. RESULTS: Three patients were female and two were males and all were Caucasian, ranging in age from 58 to 71 years. Renal biopsy findings included minimal change disease in two, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in two, and collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in one. Immunofluorescence was essentially negative in all cases. Electron microscopy showed variable podocyte injury and extensive foot process effacement. There was no evidence of multiple myeloma-related renal disease. After the biopsy, pamidronate was discontinued and renal function stabilized in all patients except the one with the collapsing variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis who required hemodialysis. Three patients had resolution of proteinuria, one patient continued to have proteinuria without deterioration in renal function. CONCLUSION: Pamidronate has been mainly associated with collapsing focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. This report expands that relationship and adds other glomerular diseases linked with podocyte injury. Additional studies are needed to define the cause of the variability of renal histology with this agent.     

Inhibitory effect of icariin on Ti-induced inflammatory osteoclastogenesis

Background

Wear particle-induced periprosthetic osteolysis that results in aseptic loosening is the most common cause of long-term failure after total joint replacement.

Materials and methods

Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid isolated from Epimedium pubescens, inhibits osteoclast formation, but its effects on wear particle-induced inflammatory osteoclastogenesis remains unclear. We investigated the role of ICA in the regulation of osteoclast differentiation in a murine macrophage cell line (RAW264.7), which is stimulated by titanium (Ti) particles and the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand.

Results

ICA effectively inhibited osteoclast formation and bone resorption in the differentiation medium. ICA (10⁻⁷ mol/L) significantly reduced the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive cells compared with the control, and significantly reduced the percentage of the surface covered by resorption lacunae. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that ICA inhibited messenger RNA expression for the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB, cathepsin K, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by Ti particles and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand. ICA also reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in RAW264.7 cells cultured with Ti particles. In addition, incubation with cholecystokinin-8 showed that ICA had no toxic effects on RAW264.7 cells.

Conclusions

ICA possibly elicited inhibitory effects on inflammatory osteoclastogenesis induced by Ti particles, indicating that ICA may be useful for the prevention and treatment of wear particle-induced osteolysis.