A technique to circumvent subcutaneous cement tracts during percutaneous vertebroplasty. (65/417)

The deposition of a subcutaneous cement tract is a potential complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty. These tracts can be a source of pain and tenderness for the patient. We describe a case of symptomatic cement deposition within a needle tract in the subcutaneous tissues that required surgical removal, and we describe a technique to prevent this complication in a second patient, by using needle redirection to cut across the cement core.  (+info)

A case of subcutaneous dirofilariasis of the eyelid in the South Indian state of Kerala. (66/417)

This report describes a case of dirofilariasis of the upper eyelid of a young female patient from Kerala. This is probably the first reported case from India in which a live dirofilarial worm was recovered from the subcutaneous tissues of the eyelid.  (+info)

The combination of SOX5, SOX6, and SOX9 (the SOX trio) provides signals sufficient for induction of permanent cartilage. (67/417)

OBJECTIVE: To regenerate permanent cartilage, it is crucial to know not only the necessary conditions for chondrogenesis, but also the sufficient conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the signal sufficient for chondrogenesis. METHODS: Embryonic stem cells that had been engineered to fluoresce upon chondrocyte differentiation were treated with combinations of factors necessary for chondrogenesis, and chondrocyte differentiation was detected as fluorescence. We screened for the combination that could induce fluorescence within 3 days. Then, primary mesenchymal stem cells, nonchondrogenic immortalized cell lines, and primary dermal fibroblasts were treated with the combination, and the induction of chondrocyte differentiation was assessed by detecting the expression of the cartilage marker genes and the accumulation of proteoglycan-rich matrix. The effects of monolayer, spheroid, and 3-dimensional culture systems on induction by combinations of transcription factors were compared. The effects of the combination on hypertrophic and osteoblastic differentiation were evaluated by detecting the expression of the characteristic marker genes. RESULTS: No single factor induced fluorescence. Among various combinations examined, only the SOX5, SOX6, and SOX9 combination (the SOX trio) induced fluorescence within 3 days. The SOX trio successfully induced chondrocyte differentiation in all cell types tested, including nonchondrogenic types, and the induction occurred regardless of the culture system used. Contrary to the conventional chondrogenic techniques, the SOX trio suppressed hypertrophic and osteogenic differentiation at the same time. CONCLUSION: These data strongly suggest that the SOX trio provides signals sufficient for the induction of permanent cartilage.  (+info)

Subcutaneous fat necrosis: report of two cases. (68/417)

Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is an uncommon, benign process in full-term infants or postmature neonates who experienced a perinatal distress. It is a transient condition of unknown origin; however, hypercalcemia may be a potentially life-threatening complication of this otherwise self-healing process. We report two cases of subcutaneous fat necrosis and discuss the clinical features, etiology, and complications of the disease.  (+info)

Histopathologic improvement with lymphedema management, Leogane, Haiti. (69/417)

In countries where bancroftian filariasis is endemic, lymphedema of the leg is a public health problem, particularly for women, who are disproportionately affected. We investigated the effect of basic lymphedema management (hygiene, skin care, and lower limb movement and elevation) on the histologic features of lymphedema. A total of 118 skin-punch biopsy specimens were collected from the legs of 91 patients enrolled in a lymphedema treatment clinic in Leogane, Haiti. Follow-up biopsy specimens were collected from 27 patients succeeds, equals 12 months later. Keratinocyte hyperproliferation, condensed dermal collagen, and mononuclear perivascular infiltrate increased with lymphedema stage, which suggested progressive chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Follow-up biopsies showed reductions in perivascular mononuclear infiltrate in the superficial dermis (41% decrease in prevalence), perivascular fibrosis in the deep dermis (58% decrease), and periadnexal mononuclear infiltrate (53% decrease). These data suggest that the clinical improvement commonly observed with basic lymphedema management has a histologic basis.  (+info)

Evidence for a functional calcium-sensing receptor that modulates myogenic tone in rat subcutaneous small arteries. (70/417)

Myogenic tone of small arteries is dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium (Ca(o)(2+)), and, recently, a receptor that senses changes in Ca(2+), the calcium-sensing receptor (CaR), has been detected in vascular tissue. We investigated whether the CaR is involved in the regulation of myogenic tone in rat subcutaneous small arteries. Immunoblot analysis using a monoclonal antibody against the CaR demonstrated its presence in rat subcutaneous arteries. To determine whether the CaR was functionally active, segments of artery (< 250 microm internal diameter) mounted in a pressure myograph with an intraluminal pressure of 70 mmHg were studied after the development of myogenic tone. Increasing Ca(o)(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](o)) cumulatively from 0.5 to 10 mM induced an initial constriction (0.5-2 mM) followed by dilation (42 +/- 5% loss of tone). The dose-dependent dilation was mimicked by other known CaR agonists including magnesium (1-10 mM) and the aminoglycosides neomycin (0.003-10 mM) and kanamycin (0.003-3 mM). PKC activation with the phorbol ester phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (20nM) inhibited the dilation induced by high [Ca(2+)](o) or neomycin, whereas inhibition of PKC with GF109203X (10 microM) increased the responses to Ca(o)(2+) or neomycin, consistent with the role of PKC as a negative regulator of the CaR. We conclude that rat subcutaneous arteries express a functionally active CaR that may be involved in the modulation of myogenic tone and hence the regulation of peripheral vascular resistance.  (+info)

Gene interactions in Caenorhabditis elegans define DPY-31 as a candidate procollagen C-proteinase and SQT-3/ROL-4 as its predicted major target. (71/417)

Zinc metalloproteases of the BMP-1/TOLLOID family (also known as astacins) are extracellular enzymes involved in important developmental processes in metazoans. We report the characterization of the Caenorhabditis elegans gene dpy-31, which encodes the first essential astacin metalloprotease identified in this organism. Loss-of-function mutations in dpy-31 result in cuticle defects, abnormal morphology, and embryonic lethality, indicating that dpy-31 is required for formation of the collagenous exoskeleton. DPY-31 is widely expressed in the hypodermal cells, which are responsible for cuticle secretion. We have investigated the dpy-31 function through reversion analysis. While complete reversion can be obtained only by intragenic suppressors, reversion of the Dpy-31 lethal phenotype also can be caused by dominant extragenic suppressors. Nine extragenic suppressors carry mutations in the uniquely essential collagen gene sqt-3, which we show is the same gene as rol-4. Most mutations exhibit the unusual property of exclusively dominant suppression and all affect the sequence of the SQT-3 collagen C terminus. This suggests that DPY-31 is responsible for C-terminal proteolytic processing of collagen trimers and is therefore a structural and functional homolog of vertebrate BMP-1. The results also demonstrate the critical importance of the collagen C-terminal sequence, which is highly conserved among all 49 members of the SQT-3 subfamily.  (+info)

Visfatin: a protein secreted by visceral fat that mimics the effects of insulin. (72/417)

Fat tissue produces a variety of secreted proteins (adipocytokines) with important roles in metabolism. We isolated a newly identified adipocytokine, visfatin, that is highly enriched in the visceral fat of both humans and mice and whose expression level in plasma increases during the development of obesity. Visfatin corresponds to a protein identified previously as pre-B cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), a 52-kilodalton cytokine expressed in lymphocytes. Visfatin exerted insulin-mimetic effects in cultured cells and lowered plasma glucose levels in mice. Mice heterozygous for a targeted mutation in the visfatin gene had modestly higher levels of plasma glucose relative to wild-type littermates. Surprisingly, visfatin binds to and activates the insulin receptor. Further study of visfatin's physiological role may lead to new insights into glucose homeostasis and/or new therapies for metabolic disorders such as diabetes.  (+info)