uCTX-II may have a role as a prognostic marker following ACLR and warrants further investigation. (C) 2012 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate concentrations Dihydrotestosterone order of cartilage and bone markers, and
pro-inflammatory cytokines in synovial fluid (SF) collected at different time-points from acutely injured knees with hemarthrosis and to compare these with SF concentrations of knees of age and gender-matched healthy reference subjects.
Methods: SF was aspirated from the acutely injured knee of 111 individuals (mean age 27 years, span 13-64 years, 22% women). Concentrations of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) were measured by Alcian blue precipitation
whereas cartilage ARCS, bone biomarkers [osteocalcin (OCL), secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) and osteopontin (OPN)] and pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha] were analyzed using electrochemiluminescence. Samples were also analyzed with regard to time between injury and aspiration [same day (n = 29), 1 day (n = 31), 2-3 days (n = 19), 4-7 days (n = 20) and 8-23 days (n = 12)].
Results: SF concentrations of ARCS (P < 0.001), SPARC (P < 0.001), OPN (P < 0.001), and all cytokines (P < 0.001), but not sGAG (P = 0.06) or OCL (P = 0.992), were significantly higher in injured knees compared to knees PCI-34051 of reference subjects. The cartilage markers sGAG and
ARCS were significantly higher in knees aspirated later than 1 day after injury, whereas concentrations of SPARC and OPN and all cytokines were higher in knees aspirated the same day as the injury and at all time-points thereafter.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that an acute knee injury is associated with an instant local biochemical response to the trauma, which may affect cartilage and bone as well as the inflammatory activity. (C) 2012 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“SETTING: In the 1960s, treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) with isoniazid proved to be so effective, safe, and inexpensive that research into alternative treatments virtually ceased. Now that multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is widespread, Stattic no data are available to guide the management of persons exposed to MDR-TB (contacts).
METHODS: We surveyed National TB Program directors and MDR-TB program managers about current practices for managing MDR-TB contacts in countries with an MDR-TB prevalence of >2% in new patients and those with programs for managing MDR-TB.
RESULTS: Of 35 countries that met the survey criteria, 25 (71%) responded; 24 of these (96%) have a guideline for managing TB contacts. Of these, 19 (76%) usually or always evaluated contacts and treated LTBI.