The inability to deliver growth factors locally in a transient but sustained manner is a substantial barrier to tissue regeneration. Systems capable of localized plasmid gene delivery for prolonged times may offer lower toxicity and should be well-suited for growth factor therapeutics. We investigated the potency of plasmid gene delivery from genes physically entrapped in a polymer matrix (gene activated matrix) using bone regeneration as the endpoint in vivo. Implantation of gene activated matrices at sites of bone injury was associated with retention and expression of plasmid DNA for at least 6 weeks, and with the induction of centimeters of normal new bone in a stable, reproducible, dose- and time-dependent manner.

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Abstract:The wide availability and recent improvement in technology coupled with portability, low cost and safety makes ultrasound the first choice imaging investigation for the evaluation of musculoskeletal diseases. Diagnostic use of ultrasound findings is greatly enhanced by knowledge of the clinical presentation. Conversely, ultrasound skills with its prerequisite anatomical knowledge make the clinical diagnosis more precise and reduce uncertainty in the choice of therapy. Therefore, it is essential for rheumatologists to acquire ultrasonography skills in order to improve patient care. Ultrasound examination provides an excellent opportunity for patient education and to explain the rationale for therapy. This review summarizes the indications for musculoskeletal ultrasound and describes its role in diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of methotrexate-induced nausea and vomiting in both adolescent and adult patients with inflammatory arthritis. A survey of methotrexate side effects was conducted on patients with inflammatory arthritis. We provided a brief questionnaire to unselected patients with inflammatory arthritis being treated with methotrexate attending adolescent and adult rheumatology clinics. The questions related to the presence, absence, and severity of nausea and vomiting, the temporal relationship with methotrexate and whether anti-emetics had been prescribed. A total of 106 patients from the age of 13 years and above—57 adults (over 20 years) and 49 adolescents (13–19 years) were included in this study. The median age for those experiencing nausea was 19 years (interquartile range (IQR) 7) and for those with no nausea 55 years (IQR 46) (p < 0.001). Thirty-six out of 49 adolescent patients reported nausea (73 %) compared to only 20/57 adults (35 %) (p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the nausea group had a significantly higher proportion of adolescents (p = 0.0002), patients taking subcutaneous (SC) methotrexate MTX (p = 0.002), and patients with duration of MTX of more than 1 year (p = 0.049). Adolescents were estimated to have over 6 times higher odds of nausea compared to adults (OR 6.31, 95 % CI 2.38 to 16.75, p = 0.0002) after adjusting for SC MTX and duration of MTX. Only 22 % of adolescents and 10 % of adults were prescribed anti-emetics. There is a higher prevalence of MTX-induced nausea and vomiting in adolescents and younger adult patients with inflammatory arthritis compared to older adults. The role of anti-emetics in the treatment of these symptoms is unclear.

The premise that bone cells are able to perceive and respond to mechanical forces is well accepted. This article describes the use of an in vivo hydraulic bone chamber for investigations of mechanical signal transduction. The servohydraulic loading mechanism was activated to apply a controlled compressive load to the woven trabecular bone that formed in one chamber, while the contralateral chamber served as an unloaded control. Specimens were harvested at a series of postload time points, and the cellular response to loading was evaluated by cytochemical, histomorphometric, and Northern blot analysis. A repetitive daily load stimulus elicited osteoblast biosynthetic activity characterized by an initial increase in type I procollagen by day 3 and a subsequent rise in alkaline phosphatase (

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