(C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Osteoarthritis Research Society International.”
“OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of tuberculosis (TB) and its treatment on patients’ health status.
METHODS: Questionnaires were administered prospectively to
patients at three clinics in London at diagnosis and 2 months into therapy. We assessed generic health-related quality of life (Short Form 36 [SF-36] and EQ-5D) and psychological burden (State-Trait Anxiety Short-Form, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, worry items).
RESULTS: Of the 61 participants (response rate 94%), 89% were non-UK born, 67% had pulmonary TB and 38% were aged 30-45 years. At diagnosis, scores for all eight SF-36 dimensions were significantly worse than UK general population norm scores. At follow-up, DNA Damage inhibitor scores had improved significantly (P < 0.01), except for SRT1720 nmr physical functioning and general health perception, but remained below the UK norm, except for vitality and mental health. Respondents’ mean anxiety and depression scores were high at diagnosis (48 and 22, respectively), and anxiety scores remained high at follow-up. Worries most frequently reported concerned patients’ own health (92%) and that of their family (82%).
CONCLUSIONS: TB patients suffer from significantly diminished health-related
quality of life at diagnosis. Although treatment significantly improved patients’ health status within 2 months, scores for many domains remain below UK norm scores. This emphasises the importance of a holistic approach to care and should inform the evaluation of future interventions.”
“Objective: Knowledge of mechanisms directing diarthrodial joint development may be useful in understanding joint pathologies and identifying new therapies. We have previously established that axolotl salamanders can fully repair large articular cartilage lesions, which may be due to the presence of an interzone-like tissue in the intra-articular space. Study objectives were to selleck products further characterize axolotl diarthrodial joint structure and determine the differentiation potential of interzone-like tissue in a skeletal microenvironment.
Design: Diarthrodial joint morphology and expression of aggrecan,
brother of CDO (BOC), type I collagen. type II collagen, and growth/differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) were examined in femorotibial joints of sexually mature (> 12 months) axolotls. Joint tissue cellularity was evaluated in individuals from 2 to 24 months of age. Chondrogenic potential of the interzone was evaluated by placing interzone-like tissue into 4 mm tibial defects.
Results: Cavitation reached completion in the femoroacetabular and humeroradial joints, but an interzone-like tissue was retained in the intra-articular space of distal limb joints. Joint tissue cellularity decreased to 7 months of age and then remained stable. Gene expression patterns of joint markers are broadly similar in developing mammals and mature axolotls.