(C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 114: 2474-2480, 2009″
“OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize a population of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in terms of traditional and new cardiovascular risk factors and assess their putative correlation with clinical disease activity (evaluated by the Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS]).
METHODS: Thirty relapsing MS patients and 66 subjects, matched by age and sex, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. For each subject, anthropometric data were collected and classical biochemical (including lipid profile, glucose and C reactive protein [CRP] levels) and
novel markers (paraoxonase 1 [PON1] enzyme activity and contents of high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein [Ox-LDL], tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alfa, vascular
endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and adiponectin) were studied.
RESULTS: In patients BGJ398 price group, 23 women and 7 men were included, aged 35.00 (28.25-40.25) years and scoring a median of 2.00 (1.50-3.13) in EDSS. Comparing with controls, the most relevant differences encountered were: increased serum triglycerides (P < 0.001), Ox-LDL (P < 0.001) as well as Ox-LDL/LDL ratio and reduced small HDL (P = 0.040), accompanied by a trend to increased VEGF concentration. LDL content, especially Ox-LDL, showed positive and significant correlation with EDSS (r = 0.458; P = 0.011) and VEGF (r = 0.453; P = 0.014).
CONCLUSIONS: MS patients presented a profile of early CV risk, being Ox-LDL contents a putative PND-1186 good marker and having correlation with the clinical activity of the disease.”
“Study Design. Prospective analysis of patients fused with freeze-dried corticancellous allograft, local bone graft, and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) ( Infuse) studied for
a minimum follow-up of 24 months.
Objectives. To assess the fusion rates of the allograft Small molecule library in vivo and Infuse using plain radiographs and reconstructed computed tomography (CT) scans. Outcome measures included Oswestry Disability Index, Verbal Rating Pain Scale for back and leg pain, and SF-36 Health Survey as well as complications.
Summary of Background Data. The “”gold standard”" for arthrodesis of the lumbar spine includes the use of autogenous iliac crest bone graft. Morbidity associated with this harvest is well established. Alternatives to autogenous iliac crest bone graft harvest are being sought both to improve and match arthrodesis rate and secondarily to decrease donor site morbidity.
Methods. A prospective consecutive series of 36 patients treated for lumbar acquired spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease leading to instrumented 1 and 2 level fusions were studied. These patients were arthrodesed with rhBMP-2 and freeze-dried corticancellous allograft and limited amounts of local autogenous bone graft.
Results.