Transient osteoporosis of the hip, complete resolution after treatment with alendronate as observed by MRI description of eight cases and review of the literature

Transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH), also referred to as transient bone marrow edema syndrome, is most common in middle-aged men and often after trivial trauma or sport-related injuries. Diagnosis is usually made by eliminating other possible causes of hip pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays an important role in diagnosis and demonstrates a typical pattern of bone marrow edema (BME) in the form of diffuse low signal on T1-weighted images and high signal on T2 fat-suppressed or short T1 inversion recovery images. No consensus exists about the management of TOH, as it may progress to avascular necrosis. We describe eight cases of TOH treated with alendronate resulting in improvement of pain and function and complete resolution of BME on MRI. The literature is reviewed regarding TOH and the relationship with bone marrow edema syndrome, avascular necrosis of the hip, and regional migratory osteoporosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the improvement of this condition after of alendronate with documented radiological improvement on follow-up MRI.     

Efficacy of zinc oxide nanoparticles in attenuating pancreatic damage in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) therapy is a promising strategy for treatment of several diseases. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of ZnO NPs in ameliorating the histopathological and functional alterations in the pancreas of a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Rats were randomized into control, diabetic and ZnO NPs-treated diabetic groups. Biochemical assays of blood glucose and serum insulin were performed. Pancreas specimens were processed for light and electron microscope examinations. ZnO NPs effectively reversed diabetes-induced pancreatic injury, as evidenced by the structural and ultrastructural improvement and confirmed by biochemical normalization of blood glucose and serum insulin.     

In palindromic rheumatism,hand joint involvement and positive anti-CCP antibodies predict RA development after 1 year of follow-up

This study aimed to determine the frequency of rheumatoid factor (RF) and cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in a cohort of patients with palindromic rheumatism (PR) and to find determinants for progression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). All new cases of PR (n?=?90) were included prospectively and followed up for 1 year, and a comparison group of RA cases (n?=?70) was also included. At study entry in all patients in both groups, RF and anti-CCP antibodies were tested, and the findings were compared and correlated. In the PR group at presentation, RF was positive in 30 patients (33.3 %) and, in the RA group, in 45 patients (64.3 %). Anti-CCP antibodies were positive in 35 patients (38.9 %) with PR and in 58 patients (82.9 %) with RA. In the PR group, positive correlations were observed between RF and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p?=?0.036), while anti-CCP positively correlated with disease duration (p?=?0.015) and CRP (p?<?0.001). At 1-year follow-up, 25 cases (27.5 %) had progressed to RA, 3 (3.3 %) cases had developed systemic lupus, 43 cases had responded to hydroxychloroquine with complete remission, five cases had developed other rheumatic diseases, and 14 cases had progressed to undifferentiated arthritis. After regression analysis, the involvement of hand joints and positive anti-CCP were the only predictors that determined progression into RA within a year (p?<?0.001 and p?=?0.02, respectively). Early hand joint involvement and positive anti-CCP at disease onset are good predictors for progression to RA in this domain.     

Evaluation of cognitive function in systemic sclerosis patients: a pilot study

Clinical Rheumatology - To investigate cognitive dysfunction in adult patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who had no known clinical neurological manifestations and to relate it with other...     

Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in Egypt

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 260 blood donors seen at blood banks in Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt. Blood donors were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors for T. gondii infection. A blood sample was taken to document their T. gondii antibody status using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Overall, 155 (59.6%) of 260 blood donors were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and eating meat by-products (luncheon/shawerma) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 80.82 [95% CI 18.62–350.81], P < 0.0001) or being non-educated (adjusted OR 32.25 [95% CI 7.46–139.44], P < 0.0001). These findings highlight that T. gondii is prevalent among blood donors in Egypt.     

Synthesis, radiosynthesis, and biological evaluation of carbon-11 and fluorine-18 (N-fluoroalkyl) labeled 2beta-carbomethoxy-3beta-(4'-(3-furyl)phenyl)tropanes and -nortropanes: candidate radioligands for in vivo imaging of the serotonin transporter with positron emission tomography

2beta-Carbomethoxy-3beta-(4'-(3-furyl)phenyl)nortropane (1) was synthesized along with the N-methyl (2), N-fluoroethyl (3), N-fluoropropyl (4), and N-fluorobutyl (5) derivatives. The binding affinity for each compound to the human serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine transporters was determined using transfected HEK-293 cells. Radiolabeling and microPET brain imaging studies were performed with [(11)C]1, [(11)C]2, and [(18)F]3 to determine their utility as in vivo imaging agents.