http://hdl.handle.net/2440/5291 2013-06-19T13:20:42Z http://hdl.handle.net/2440/78121 Title: Osteocyte apoptosis and lipid infiltration as mechanisms of alcohol-induced bone loss Author: Maurel, Delphine B.; Pallu, Stéphane; Jaffré, Christelle; Fazzalari, Nicola L.; Boisseau, Nathalie; Uzbekov, Rustem; Benhamou, Claude-Laurent; Rochefort, Gaël Y. Abstract: AIMS: We carried out an in vivo study to assess the relationship between increase in adiposity in the marrow and osteocyte apoptosis in the case of alcohol-induced bone loss. METHODS AND RESULTS: After alcohol treatment, the number of apoptotic osteocytes was increased and lipid droplets were accumulated within the osteocytes, the bone marrow and the cortical bone micro-vessels. At last, we found an inverse correlation between bone mineral density and osteocyte apoptosis and strong significant correlations between the osteocyte apoptotic number and lipid droplet accumulation in osteocyte and bone micro-vessels. CONCLUSION: These data show that alcohol-induced bone loss is associated with osteocyte apoptosis and lipid accumulation in the bone tissue. This lipid intoxication, or ‘bone steatosis’, is correlated with lipid accumulation in bone marrow and blood micro-vessels. 2011-12-31T13:30:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2440/75970 Title: Transient ischemic attacks characterized by RNA profiles in blood Author: Zhan, Xinhua; Jickling, Glen; Tian, Yingfang; Stamova, Boryana; Xu, Huichun; Ander, Bradley P.; Turner, Renée Jade; Mesias, M.; Verro, Piero; Bushnell, C.; Johnston, S. Claiborne; Sharp, Frank R. Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Transient ischemic attacks (TIA) are common. Though systemic inflammation and thrombosis are associated with TIA, further study may provide insight into TIA pathophysiology and possibly lead to the development of treatments specifically targeted to TIA. We sought to determine whether gene expression profiles in blood could better characterize the proinflammatory and procoagulant states in TIA patients. METHODS: RNA expression in blood of TIA patients (n = 26) was compared to vascular risk factor control subjects without symptomatic cardiovascular disease (n = 26) using Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 microarrays. Differentially expressed genes in TIA were identified by analysis of covariance and evaluated with cross-validation and functional analyses. RESULTS: Patients with TIA had different patterns of gene expression compared to controls. There were 480 probe sets, corresponding to 449 genes, differentially expressed between TIA and controls (false discovery rate correction for multiple comparisons, p ≤ 0.05, absolute fold change ≥1.2). These genes were associated with systemic inflammation, platelet activation, and prothrombin activation. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the identified genes suggested the presence of 2 patterns of RNA expression in patients with TIA. Prediction analysis identified a set of 34 genes that discriminated TIA from controls with 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. CONCLUSION: Patients with recent TIA have differences of gene expression in blood compared to controls. The 2 gene expression profiles associated with TIA suggests heterogeneous responses between subjects with TIA that may provide insight into cause, risk of stroke, and other TIA pathophysiology. 2010-12-31T13:30:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2440/75668 Title: Radioscapholunate arthrodesis - a prospective study Author: Bain, Gregory Ian; Ondimu, Phillip; Hallam, Peter J.; Ashwood, Neil Abstract: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate pain levels, range of motion, patient activity and satisfaction after radioscapholunate (RSL) arthrodesis. This was in association with distal scaphoid excision and complete resection of the triquetrum. The non-union rate for radioscapholunate arthrodesis was examined and the results compared with previous studies. Twenty-three patients (14 males and nine females) with an average age of 47 (range 26-73) years underwent RSL fusion for post-traumatic osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Kienböck's disease of the lunate with a mean follow-up of 32 (range 13-70) months. The absolute prerequisite for any of these groups of patients was a functional midcarpal joint which was assessed pre-operatively with radiographs and intra-operatively prior to RSL fusion. The average flexion to extension motion changed from 66 degrees to 57 degrees . The ulnoradial range of motion also increased to 43 degrees from a pre-operative value of 22 degrees . The patients visual analogue pain scores reduced from an average of 64 to 28 (p = 0.01). Nineteen patients had no restriction in activity and all but one was satisfied with the outcome. All patients remained in full time employment with ten returning to some form of sport. RSL fusion with excision of the distal pole of the scaphoid and the entire triquetrum led to minimal reduction in the flexion-extension arc of motion and an increase in the ulnoradial arc. There was also good pain relief and maintenance of a patient's function. Memory staples are also an effective method of securing fusion in the wrist obtaining similar results to that seen in forefoot surgery. 2008-12-31T13:30:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2440/75638 Title: Reproductive biology of an old endemic murid rodent of Australia, the Spinifex hopping mouse, Notomys alexis: adaptations for life in the arid zone Author: Breed, William Godfrey; Leigh, Christopher Mark Abstract: The Spinifex hopping mouse (Notomys alexis Thomas, 1922) is an arid adapted Australo–Papuan old endemic rodent that undergoes boom and bust population cycles. In this communication, we review our findings on the timing of reproduction and the potential reproductive rate of this species. To investigate the first question, the reproductive condition of adult females, and occurrence of immatures, in a population on a cattle station in central Australia was determined and, for the second, data from a laboratory colony compared to those previously published on closely related species in other environments. The findings show that, at least in the population at the times that monitoring was performed, reproductive activity was only taking place in spring and early summer, whereas the laboratory study indicates that females have a similar gestation length and litter size to those of most close relatives occurring in other environments. Males have extremely small testes and store relatively few sperm. The findings suggest that Notomys alexis might show some seasonality of reproduction at least in this region of central Australia and that this species does not have a higher reproductive rate than that of related species in other, more predictable, environments. 2010-12-31T13:30:00Z