Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging training,use, and knowledge among rheumatologists in China

Clinical Rheumatology - Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) has been extensively studied by rheumatologists in Europe and the Americas, but less is known about MSUS use in Asia. Our hypothesis is...     

Comparison of Disfluent and Ungrammatical Speech of Preadolescents with and without ASD

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - This paper analyses disfluencies and ungrammatical expressions in the speech of 11–13-year-old Finnish-speaking boys with ASD...     

Anti-insulin Activity in IgG-fractions from Children with Newly-diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes and Negative for Insulin Autoantibodies

Insulin autoantibodies (IAA) are often detected as the first humoral sign of β-cell autoimmunity in prospective studies in young children with increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes. After the appearance of IAA their level typically rise but seems to decline in many cases before the clinical presentation of type 1 diabetes. We hypothesized that the reason for the sudden drops in the levels of IAA could be the formation of immune complexes caused by binding of antibodies to free insulin in plasma.

We studied whether isolation of the IgG-fraction and dissociation of immune complexes by acid treatment using protein A column results in the appearance of detectable IAA in those children with newly-diagnosed type 1 diabetes whose plasma samples test negative for IAA. IAA assay was performed in IgG-fractions and corresponding plasma samples from 17 children with type 1 diabetes and 23 unaffected children all testing negative for plasma IAA. The levels of IAA measured from IgG-fractions of diabetic children were higher than the levels of IAA measured from IgG-fractions in the control children (?p=0.004 in Mann–Whitney U-test). Forty-seven percent (8 out of 17) of newly-diagnosed patients negative for plasma IAA before IgG separation had increased levels of IAA in IgG-fractions and only 13% (3 out of 23) of controls. The levels of glutamate decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA) did not differ between patients (n=14) and controls (n=21) negative for plasma GADA when measured in IgG-fractions. Our results suggest that formation of immune complexes results in false negative results in tests for IAA but not for GADA.     

BK polyomavirus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis among pediatric allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients: Treatment response and evidence for nosocomial transmission

BackgroundBK polyomavirus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BK-PyVHC) is a significant complication of allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but risk factors and treatment are currently unresolved. BK-PyVHC typically presents with clinical cystitis, macrohematuria, and increasing urine and blood BKV loads.ObjectivesCharacterization of children undergoing allogeneic HSCT with BK-PyVHC and their clinical and antibody response to cidofovir treatment.Study designBy prospective screening of urine and plasma in 50 pediatric allogenic HSCT performed between 2008 and 2010, we identified 6 (12%) children with BK-PyVHC. Cidofovir was administered intravenously to 5 patients and intravesically to 4 patients (3 double treatments).ResultsDecreasing BKV viremia of > 2 log₁₀ copies/mL and clinical resolution was seen in 4 patients over 5–12 weeks. Responses occurred only in patients mounting BKV-specific IgM and IgG responses. Epidemic curve plots, BKV genotyping and contact tracing provided evidence of transmission between 2 BKV-seronegative patients, but ruled out transmission among the remaining four patientsConclusionsThe data suggest that BK-PyVHC may be the result of nosocomial transmission in children with low/undetectable BKV antibodies and raises urgent questions about appropriate infection control measures and the role of cidofovir.     

Effects of chitosan and bioactive glass modifications of knitted and rolled polylactide‐based 96/4 L/D scaffolds on chondrogenic differentiation of adipose stem cells

The performance of biodegradable knitted and rolled 3‐dimensional (3D) polylactide‐based 96/4 scaffolds modified with bioactive glass (BaG) 13‐93, chitosan and both was compared with regard to the viability, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of rabbit adipose stem cells (ASCs). Scaffold porosities were determined by micro‐computed tomography (μCT). Water absorption and degradation of scaffolds were studied during 28‐day hydrolysis in Tris‐buffer. Viability, number and differentiation of ASCs in PLA96/4 scaffolds were examined in vitro. The dimensions of the scaffolds were maintained during hydrolysis and mass loss was detected only in the BaG13‐93 containing scaffolds. ASCs adhered and proliferated on each scaffold type. Cell aggregation and expression of chondral matrix components improved in all scaffold types in chondrogenic medium. Signs of hypertrophy were detected in the modified scaffolds but not in the plain PLA96/4 scaffold. Chondrogenic differentiation was most enhanced in the presence of chitosan. These findings indicate that the plain P scaffold provided a good 3D‐matrix for ASC proliferation whereas the addition of chitosan to the PLA96/4 scaffold induced chondrogenic differentiation independent of the medium. Accordingly, a PLA96/4 scaffold modified by chitosan could provide a functional and bioactive basis for tissue‐engineered chondral implants. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of Chondroitin Sulfate and Hyaluronic Acid Doped Conductive Polypyrrole Films for Adipose Stem Cells

Polypyrrole (PPy) is a conductive polymer that has aroused interest due to its biocompatibility with several cell types and high tailorability as an electroconductive scaffold coating. This study compares the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) doped PPy films on human adipose stem cells (hASCs) under electrical stimulation. The PPy films were synthetized electrochemically. The surface morphology of PPy–HA and PPy–CS was characterized by an atomic force microscope. A pulsed biphasic electric current (BEC) was applied via PPy films non-stimulated samples acting as controls. Viability, attachment, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of hASCs were evaluated by live/dead staining, DNA content, Alkaline phosphatase activity and mineralization assays. Human ASCs grew as a homogenous cell sheet on PPy–CS surfaces, whereas on PPy–HA cells clustered into small spherical structures. PPy–CS supported hASC proliferation significantly better than PPy–HA at the 7 day time point. Both substrates equally triggered early osteogenic differentiation of hASCs, although mineralization was significantly induced on PPy–CS compared to PPy–HA under BEC. These differences may be due to different surface morphologies originating from the CS and HA dopants. Our results suggest that PPy–CS in particular is a potential osteogenic scaffold coating for bone tissue engineering.