Molecular Targeted Therapy for the Bone Loss Secondary to Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis Using Medications for Osteoporosis: A Literature Review

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis can cause severe osteolytic and destructive lesions in the spine. Elderly or immunocompromised individuals are particularly susceptible to infectious diseases; specifically, infections in the spine can impair the ability of the spine to support the trunk, causing patients to be bedridden, which can also severely affect the physical condition of patients. Although treatments for osteoporosis have been well studied, treatments for bone loss secondary to infection remain to be elucidated because they have pathological manifestations that are similar to but distinct from those of osteoporosis. Recently, we encountered a patient with severely osteolytic pyogenic spondylodiscitis who was treated with romosozumab and exhibited enhanced bone formation. Romosozumab stimulated canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, causing robust bone formation and the inhibition of bone resorption, which exceeded the bone loss secondary to infection. Bone loss due to infections involves the suppression of osteoblastogenesis by osteoblast apoptosis, which is induced by the nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, and osteoclastogenesis with the receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB ligand-receptor combination and subsequent activation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 and c-Fos. In this study, we review and discuss the molecular mechanisms of bone loss secondary to infection and analyze the efficacy of the medications for osteoporosis, focusing on romosozumab, teriparatide, denosumab, and bisphosphonates, in treating this pathological condition.     

Mechanisms of orientational and photoelastic birefringence generation of methacrylates for the design of zero–zero‐birefringence polymers

The intrinsic birefringence Δn⁰ and photoelastic coefficient C of poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(2,2,2‐trifluroethyl methacrylate), poly(phenyl methacrylate), and poly(2,2,3,3,3‐pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) were determined. We categorized these methacrylate polymers into four birefringence‐types, even though their molecular structures differed only by the substituents on the side chains. Based on the results of Δn⁰ and C, novel polymers that exhibit neither orientational nor photoelastic birefringence, i.e., zero–zero‐birefringence polymers, were designed and synthesized by quaternary copolymerization system. Furthermore, we confirmed that the mechanisms of orientational birefringence and photoelastic birefringence generation were different in these methacrylate polymers. The conformation of the repeat unit of the polymers was nearly constant during the generation of orientational birefringence. In contrast, the conformation of the repeat unit of the polymers changed during the generation of photoelastic birefringence in the glassy state. These findings demonstrated the reasonability of evaluating orientational and photoelastic birefringence separately, as well as the adequacy of the classification of polymers into four birefringence‐types. Given these results and the fact that zero–zero‐birefringence polymers could be prepared successfully by four‐birefringence type monomers, we demonstrated the reasonability of the method for designing the zero–zero‐birefringence polymers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1330–1338, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Changes in the gaseous H2S barrier properties of damaged silicate coated nylon 6 films

The damage imposed on SiO _x deposited nylon 6 films as a result of abrasion with a cotton cloth and Gelboflex testing was examined by evaluating the rate at which copper plates, which were enveloped by the damaged films, were corroded by H₂S. Abrasion with a cotton cloth caused some micro-cracking of the SiO _x layer and the permeation rate of H₂S approached that of the uncoated nylon 6 film. Damage to the SiO _x layer by twisting and crushing progressed gradually with the number of Gelboflex test cycles and correspondingly the corrosion rate of the copper plates increased. Comparison of the corrosion rates of the copper plates kept in the pouches made of various commercial films with those obtained for the damaged SiO _x deposited nylon 6 films showed a clear relationship between the H₂ permeation rate of the films and the corrosion rate of the copper plates by H₂S.     

Oxidation of doped europium in BaMgAl10O17 by annealing studied by x‐ray‐absorption fine‐structure measurements

Abstract— We studied the influence of annealing in air on doped europium in BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇ by performing x‐ray absorption fine‐structure measurements. We determined the oxidation of doped divalent europium by annealing in air at over 500°C. The interatomic distance between the europium and the surrounding oxygen atoms was compressed by oxidation. It also appears that the oxidation process of europium is determined by the diffusion of oxygen into BaMgAl₁₀O₁₇.     

Photoinduced Formation of Small Gold Particles in Silica Gels

AuCl⁻₄ ions in sol-gel-derived silica gels (Au/silica gels) were photoreduced by ultraviolet light irradiation at room temperature. In the presence of ethylene glycol in the silica gels, small Au particles were effectively formed by the irradiation. When the storage temperature of the gels was increased in the dark after the irradiation, the surface plas-mon resonance absorption peak of the Au particles was shifted to longer wavelengths, indicating that the Au particles became large. At a storage temperature below 9°C, Au particles could not be observed in the silica gels. The apparent activation energy of Au particle formation was estimated to be 17. 3 kcal·tmol⁻¹.     

Specific changes in human brain following reperfusion after cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Very few reports are available on serial changes in human brain after cardiac arrest. The primary objective of this study is to investigate sequential neuroradiological changes in patients remaining in a persistent vegetative state following resuscitation after cardiac arrest. METHODS: We repeatedly studied eight vegetative patients resuscitated from unexpected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using computed tomographic (CT) scanning and high-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5 T. RESULTS: In seven of the eight patients, CT scans obtained between days 2 and 6 features symmetrical low-density lesions in the bilateral caudate, lenticular, and/or thalamic nuclei. These ischemic lesions were persistently of low density on serial CT scans. In these seven patients, MR images demonstrated what were thought to be hemoglobin degradation products derived from minor hemorrhages localized in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and/or substantia nigra. Diffuse brain edema in the acute stage and diffuse brain atrophy in the chronic stage were consistent neuroradiological findings. No abnormal enhanced lesions were demonstrated by CT scans. CONCLUSIONS: The most characteristic findings on high-field MR images were symmetrical lesions in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and/or substantia nigra with specific changes suggestive of minor hemorrhages that were not evident on CT scans. We speculate that these minor hemorrhages result from diapedesis of red blood cells in these regions during the reperfusion period through the endothelium disrupted by ischemia-reperfusion insult.     

2D Image Construction from Low Resolution Response of a New Non‐invasive Measurement for Medical Application

This paper presents an application of digital signal processing to data acquired by the radio imaging method (RIM) that was adopted to measure moisture distribution inside the human body. RIM was originally developed for the mining industry; we are applying the method to a biomedical measurement because of its simplicity, economy, and safety. When a two‐dimensional image was constructed from the measured data, the method provided insufficient resolution because the wavelength of the measurement medium, a weak electromagnetic wave in a VHF band, was longer than human tissues. We built and measured a phantom, a model simulating the human body, consisting of two water tanks representing large internal organs. A digital equalizer was applied to the measured values as a weight function, and images were reconstructed that corresponded to the original shape of the two water tanks. As a result, a two‐dimensional image containing two individual peaks corresponding to the original two small water tanks was constructed. The result suggests the method was applicable to biomedical measurement by the assistance of digital signal processing. This technique may be applicable to home‐based medical care and other situations in which safety, simplicity, and economy are important.     

Formation of uniform GaAs multi-atomic steps with 20–30 nm periodicity and related structures on vicinal (111)B planes by MBE

We studied morphology of GaAs surfaces and the transport properties of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) on vicinal (111)B planes. Multi-atomic steps (MASs) are found on the vicinal (111)B facet grown by molecular beam epitaxy, which will affect electron transport on the facet. We also studied how the morphology of GaAs epilayers on vicinal (111)B substrates depends on growth conditions, especially on the As₄ flux. The uniformity of MASs on the substrates have been improved and smooth surfaces were obtained when the GaAs was grown with high As₄ flux, providing step periodicity of 20 nm. The channel resistance of the 2DEG perpendicular to the MASs is reduced drastically with this smooth morphology. These findings are valuable not only for fabricating quantum devices on the (111)B facets but also those on the vicinal (111)B substrates.