Iron inhibits hydroxyapatite crystal growth in vitro.

Hemochromatosis is a known cause of osteoporosis in which the pathophysiology of bone loss is largely unknown and the role of iron remains questionable. We have investigated the effects of iron on the growth of hydroxyapatite crystals in vitro on carboxymethylated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) pellets. This noncellular and enzyme-independent model mimics the calcification of woven bone (composed of calcospherites made of hydroxyapatite crystals). Polymer pellets were incubated with body fluid containing iron at increasing concentrations (20, 40, 60 micromol/L). Hydroxyapatite growth was studied by chemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman microscopy. When incubated in body fluid containing iron, significant differences were observed with control pellets. Iron was detected at a concentration of 5.41- to 7.16-fold that of controls. In pellets incubated with iron, there was a approximately 3- to 4-fold decrease of Ca and P and a approximately 1.3- to 1.4-fold increase in the Ca/P ratio. There was no significant difference among the iron groups of pellets, but a trend to a decrease of Ca with the increase of iron concentration was noted. Calcospherite diameters were significantly lower on pellets incubated with iron. Raman microspectroscopy showed a decrease in crystallinity (measured by the full width of the half height of the 960 Deltacm(-1) band) with a significant increase in carbonate substitution (measured by the intensity ratio of 1071 to 960 Deltacm(-1) band). Energy dispersive x-ray analysis identified iron in the calcospherites. In vitro, iron is capable to inhibit bone crystal growth with significant changes in crystallinity and carbonate substitution.

Synthesis and characterisation of core-shell structures for orthopaedic surgery.

This paperwork deals with the obtaining and characterisation of new acrylic cements for bone surgery. The final mixture of cement contains derivatives of methacryloyloxyethyl phosphate, methacrylic acid or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulphonic acid. The idea of using these monomers is sustained by their ability to form ionic bonds with barium, which is responsible for X-ray reflection and by the biocompatibility of these structures. The strategy consists in the obtaining of core-shell structures through heterogeneous polymerisation, which are used for final cement's manufacture. The orthopaedic cements were characterised by SEM, EDX, compression resistance and cytotoxicity assays.

In-vivo selection of an azole-resistant petite mutant of Candida glabrata.

Two isolates of Candida glabrata from the same stool sample from a bone marrow transplant recipient treated with fluconazole, and designated 1084-L for large colonies on yeast extract-peptone-dextrose-agar and 1084-S for small colonies, were analysed. In-vitro susceptibility tests with a commercially available disk diffusion procedure showed that isolate 1084-L had a susceptibility pattern typical of wild-type strains of C. glabrata with sensitivity to polyenes and the presence of resistant colonies randomly distributed within the inhibition zones for all azole compounds except tioconazole. In contrast, isolate 1084-S, which was found by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and random amplification of polymorphic DNA to be genetically closely related to isolate 1084-L, exhibited cross-resistance to the azole compounds except tioconazole. Determination of MICs by the E-test method confirmed these results, showing that isolate 1084-S had greater sensitivity to amphotericin B and complete resistance to ketoconazole and fluconazole. Growth on agar plates containing glucose or glycerol as the sole carbon source suggested that the resistant isolate had a respiratory deficiency, which was further demonstrated by flow cytometric analysis of the fluorescence of rhodamine 123-stained blastoconidia. Restriction endonuclease analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) established the mitochondrial origin of the respiratory deficiency. However, PCR amplification of the mtDNA with primers ML1 and ML6, as well as transmission electron microscopy, suggested a partial deletion of the mtDNA analogous to that described for rho- petite mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Together, these results provided evidence that the selection of azole-resistant petite mutants of C. glabrata may occur in vivo after fluconazole administration, which might explain, therefore, clinical failure of antifungal therapy.

In vitro assessment of osteoblast and macrophage mobility in presence of ß-TCP particles by videomicroscopy.

ß-TCP is widely used to repair bone defects due to its good biocompatibility, macroporosity (favoring bone ingrowth) and bioresorbability. However, cell interactions with the biomaterial at the first times of implantation remain largely unknown. We have observed cell behaviors in direct contact with ß-TCP particles using long-term culture under videomicroscopy. Osteoblastlike cells (SaOs-2) and macrophages (J774.2 and mouse peritoneal macrophages) were cultured in the presence of ß-TCP particles. For each experiment, images from 20 independent fields were acquired and stored every 15 min during 8 days. At the end of the culture, they were combined to generate time lapse videos; coverslips were fixed and observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SaOs-2 proliferation was determined by counting cells on six different and independent fields at days 1, 3, and 6. Videos showed the capacity of cells to displace the particles. Dynamic follow-up showed active proliferation of SaOs-2 occurring in the direction of the particles. J774.2 and peritoneal macrophages did not proliferate but came in direct contact with the particles and actively eroded them. SEM showed that cells were stretched and fixed onto the surface and seemed to climb from the coverslip to the particles. The long-term culture under videomicroscopy allowed a better understanding of the colonization process of ß-TCP particles by osteoblastlike cells and macrophages. Data obtained from long-term videomicroscopy are in agreement with in vivo observations confirming the interest of ß-TCP to promote osteogenesis.

Hereditary leukonychia totalis, acanthosis-nigricans-like lesions and hair dysplasia: a new syndrome?

Leukonychia is an ungueal discoloration or dyschromia. The hereditary form is rare. In the observations reported in the literature, leukonychia was total or sub-total, and was sometimes associated to other various symptoms. We report an original observation of hereditary leukonychia totalis in a father and two of his children, associated with acanthosis-nigricans-like lesions and hair dysplasia. These symptoms were also present in eight other members of the same family.

Biomimetic potential of some methacrylate-based copolymers: a comparative study.

Preparation of new biocompatible materials for bone recovery has consistently gained interest in the last few decades. Special attention was given to polymers that contain negatively charged groups, such as phosphate, carboxyl, and sulfonic groups toward calcification. This present paper work demonstrates that other functional groups present also potential application in bone pathology. New copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC), glycidyl methacrylate (GlyMA), methacrylic acid (MAA), 2-methacryloyloxymethyl acetoacetate (MOEAA), 2-methacryloyloxyethyltriethylammonium chloride (MOETAC), and tetrahydrofurfuryl methacrylate (THFMA) were obtained. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR, swelling potential, and they were submitted to in vitro tests for calcification and cytotoxicity evaluation. GlyMA and MOETAC-containing copolymers show promising results for further in vivo mineralization tests, as a potential alternative to the classical bone grafts, in bone tissue engineering.

Synthesis and use of pHEMA microbeads with human EA.hy 926 endothelial cells.

Cancer has become a major problem in public health and the resulting bone metastases a worsening factor. Facing it, different strategies have been proposed and mechanisms involved in tumor angiogenesis are being studied. Enhanced permeability retention (EPR) effect is a key step in designing new anticancer drugs. We have prepared poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) microbeads to target human endothelial EA.hy 926 cells, a cell line derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Microbeads were synthesized by emulsion precipitation method and carried positive or negative charges. EA.hy 926 cells were cultured in 24-well plates and microbeads were deposited on cells at various times. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction were used to characterize microbeads and their location outside and inside cells. Microbeads were uptaken by endothelial cells with a better internalization for negatively charged microbeads. 3D reconstruction of confocal optical sections clearly evidenced the uptake and internalization of microbeads by endothelial cells. pHEMA microbeads could represent potential drug carrier in tumor model of metastases.

Chemical structure of methylmethacrylate-2-[2',3',5'-triiodobenzoyl]oxoethyl methacrylate copolymer, radio-opacity, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility.

The properties of copolymers (physical, chemical, biocompatibility, etc.) depend on their chemical structure and microstructural characteristics. We have prepared radio-opaque polymers based on the copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-[2',3',5'-triiodobenzoyl]oxoethyl methacrylate (TIBOM). The copolymerization reaction between TIBOM and MMA showed that the reactivity ratios were r(1)=0.00029 and r(2)=1.2146. The composition diagram is typical for a practically non-homopolymerizable monomer (TIBOM) and a very reactive monomer (MMA). The copolymers were analyzed on an X-ray microcomputed tomograph and they proved to be radio-opaque even at low concentrations of TIBOM. The biocompatibility was tested both in vitro (with J774.2 macrophage and SaOS-2 osteoblast like cells) and in vivo in the rat. These materials were found to be non-toxic and were well tolerated by the organism. These combined results led to the suggestion that this type of polymer could be used as dental or bone cements in place of barium or zirconium particles, which are usually added to provide X-ray opacity.

Relationships between respiration and susceptibility to azole antifungals in Candida glabrata.

Over the past two decades, the incidence of infections due to Candida glabrata, a yeast with intrinsic low susceptibility to azole antifungals, has increased markedly. Respiratory deficiency due to mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) associated with resistance to azoles frequently occurs in vitro in this species. In order to specify the relationships between respiration and azole susceptibility, the effects of respiratory chain inhibitors on a wild-type isolate of C. glabrata were evaluated. Respiration of blastoconidia was immediately blocked after extemporaneous addition of potassium cyanide, whereas a 4-h preincubation was required for sodium azide. Antifungal susceptibility determined by a disk diffusion method on Casitone agar containing sodium azide showed a significant decrease in the susceptibility to azoles. Biweekly subculturing on Casitone agar supplemented with sodium azide was therefore performed. This resulted after 40 passages in the isolation of a respiration-deficient mutant, as suggested by its lack of growth on glycerol-containing agar. This respiratory deficiency was confirmed by flow cytometric analysis of blastoconidia stained with rhodamine 123 and by oxygraphy. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy and restriction endonuclease analysis of the mtDNA of mutant cells demonstrated the mitochondrial origin of the respiratory deficiency. Finally, this mutant exhibited cross-resistance to all the azoles tested. In conclusion, blockage of respiration in C. glabrata induces decreased susceptibility to azoles, culminating in azole resistance due to the deletion of mtDNA. This mechanism could explain the induction of petite mutations by azole antifungals which have been demonstrated to act directly on the mitochondrial respiratory chain.