Laser-induced fluorescence and FT-Raman spectroscopy for characterizing patinas on stone substrates.

This article reports on a compositional investigation of stone patinas: thin colored layers applied for protective and/or aesthetic purposes on architectural or sculptural substrates of cultural heritage. The analysis and classification of patinas provide important information of historic and artistic interest, as their composition reflects local practices, the availabilities of different materials, and the development of technological knowledge during specific historical periods. Model patinas fabricated according to traditional procedures and applied onto limestone, and a historic patina sample from the main façade of the San Blas Monastery in Lerma (a village in the province of Burgos, Spain), were analyzed by laser-induced fluorescence and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. The results obtained demonstrate the ability of these two analytical techniques to identify the key components of each formulation and those of the reaction products which result from the chemical and mineralogical transformations that occur during aging, as well as to provide information that can aid the classification of different types of patinas.

Cyclosporine A shows immunosuppressor activity on T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood and synovial fluid of patients with autoimmune arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: This work studies the effects of Cyclosporine A (CsA) upon the activation and proliferation of mononuclear cells (MNC) from the peripheral blood (PB) of patients with chronic autoimmune arthritis and from healthy controls, and from the synovial fluid (SF) of patients. METHODS: In vitro studies of activation, proliferation, mRNA expression and lymphokine production were carried out. RESULTS: We found in the PB and SF MNCs from patients with autoimmune arthritis that CsA inhibits the proliferative response, activation antigen expression, IL-2 mRNA expression and IL-2 production induced by polyclonal mitogens in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: CsA blocks lymphocyte activation in PB and SF MNCs from patients with autoimmune arthritis.

Total and regional bone mineral content and fracture rate in postmenopausal osteoporosis treated with salmon calcitonin: a prospective study.

Seventy-two postmenopausal osteoporotic women having more than one nontraumatic vertebral crush fracture were studied. Thirty-six of them, aged 68.8 +/- 1.2 years (18 +/- 4 YSM-years since menopause), were treated with 100 IU/day of salmon calcitonin i.m. plus 500 mg of elemental calcium for 10 days each month. The remaining 36 patients, aged 69.6 +/- 1.4 years (19 +/- 3 YSM), were given only 500 mg of elemental calcium for 10 days each month. All patients underwent clinical and analytical evaluation every 3 months. Radiological evaluation, assessment of vertebral deformities, and metacarpal radiogrammetry were done every 6 months. Densitometric measurements of total and regional bone mass were made every 12 months. At 24 months, the calcitonin group showed a 60% reduction in the number of new fractures and the group receiving only calcium had a 45% increase (P < 0.001). The incidence of vertebral fractures was 0.07 per patient-year in the group treated with calcitonin and 0.45 per patient-year in the group treated with calcium (P < 0.001). At 2 years, the calcitonin group showed a 12% increase in cortical bone mass on metacarpal radiogrammetry, a 16% increase in the axial skeleton on trunk densitometry, a 3.5% increase in total body bone mineral content, a 30.7% increase in pelvic bone mineral content, and a 6.2% increase in arm bone mineral content (all P < 0.001). In the group treated with calcium alone there was a loss of bone mass in every region. These findings suggest that salmon calcitonin is effective in the treatment of osteoporosis and show that it acts on cortical and trabecular bone.

Longitudinal study of the effect of calcium pidolate on bone mass in eugonadal women.

Seventy-two eugonadal women, mean age 39 +/- 4 years, with a z score for total body bone mineral content (BMC) of less than -1.5 (mean -1.80 +/- 0.12) were selected from a previous screening study of normal values of total body and regional BMC in women using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The women were distributed into two groups: 36 women undergoing treatment with 1 g/day of elemental calcium in the form of calcium pidolate and 36 women not treated. One year later, total body BMC, regional BMC in arms, legs and trunk, 24-hour urinary calcium excretion (Ca 24 hour), fasting urinary calcium/creatinine ratio, and serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase concentration were measured in both groups. There was a significant increase in total body and regional BMC (P < 0.001) in the group taking calcium pidolate. The increase was greater in arms and legs (2.5%) than in trunk (1.7%), being 2.6% for total body BMC. The z score increased from -1.81 +/- 0.13 to -1.52 +/- 0.12 (16%, P < 0.001). The corporal index did not change, and total body BMC corrected for fat-free body mass increased by 6.7% (P < 0.001). These changes were accompanied by an increase in 24-hour urinary calcium excretion and a decrease in urinary calcium/creatinine ratio and serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase concentration (P < 0.05 for all). There was a correlation between cumulative calcium dose at the end of treatment and gain in total body BMC (r2 = 0.925, P < 0.001). The untreated group showed no changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The four-compartment models in body composition: data from a study with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and near-infrared interactance on 815 normal subjects.

With the aim of studying body composition according to a four-compartment model in different age groups of healthy subjects, total body water (TBW), body fat (BF), lean body mass (LBM), and total-body bone mineral content (TBBMC) were estimated with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and near-infrared interactance in 308 normal males and 507 normal females aged 15 to 83 years. Subjects were divided into 5-year groups up to the age of 50, and then into 10-year groups. In both sexes, BF showed a positive correlation with age (P < .001) and was higher in females aged 40 to 44 compared with younger groups. LBM decreased with age only among males (P < .05). A similar finding was observed with TBW. TBBMC values did not differ between sexes in the 15- to 19-year-old group, and were greater in males in the remaining age groups. This parameter did not vary among females until menopause, and decreased in the 50- to 59-year-old group (P < .001) and from the age of 60 onward (P < .001). Height decreased (P < .001) and weight increased with age (P < .001). Both in male and female groups height and weight correlated with TBBMC (P < .001). When corrected for weight, TBBMC did not vary except in men older than 50, who showed lower values (P < .005). When corrected for height, TBBMC only changed in women aged 30 to 34 and 35 to 39.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Total and regional bone mineral content in primary hyperparathyroidism: sex differences.

Changes in cortical and trabecular bone mass occurring in primary hyperparathyroidism are the subject of controversy. We measured the total and regional bone mass in a group of patients and controls and analyzed the observed changes with respect to sex and other characteristics. Parathormone, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, tubular resorption of phosphates, alkaline phosphatase, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase differed significantly (p < 0.001 for all) between patients and controls. All the patients had significantly less total and regional bone mass; the regional bone mass of the arms did not differ. When analyzed according to sex, we found that women had a significant reduction in bone mass in all the zones studied (p < 0.001), whereas men had a significant decrease in bone mass only in the head (p < 0.025). Our findings show that hyperparathyroidism is accompanied by a loss of bone mass except in the arms, and that predominantly both cortical bone (legs, pelvis and skull) and trabecular bone (trunk) are affected. This means that the skeleton suffers generalized bone loss and a significant reduction in total body calcium content. Although we did not study many men, their bone involvement was less intense, and there was a clear difference between the sexes in this respect.

Bone mineral content and anthropometric variables in men: a cross-sectional study in 324 normal subjects.

Total body bone mineral content (TBBMC), total body bone mineral density (TBBMD), and regional bone mineral content (BMC) were determined with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and correlated with different anthropometric variables in 324 normal male subjects aged 15 to 85 years, in order to obtain further knowledge of the controversial course of bone mass in males. These subjects showed increased TBBMC and TBBMD up to the age of 25-29 years. A positive and significant (p < 0.001) correlation was observed between TBBMC and TBBMD and with BMC with age (p < 0.001), as well as between age and body weight (p < 0.001) and between the latter and body fat (p < 0.001). Age did not correlate with weight or TBBMC, TBBMD, and regional BMC in subjects older than 29 years, while a significant and positive correlation between body weight and muscle mass was observed with bone mass (p < 0.001). By multiple regression analysis, TBBMC was significantly independent of fat-free mass (FFM) and lean body mass (LBM) (p < 0.01). These findings led us to point out that bone mass increases until the age of 29 years and that changes depend more on weight that on age in men. The rate of bone mass loss with age was 0.23%, that of soft tissue 0.35%, while fat mass increased 0.7% per year.

Body composition in children and Tanner's stages: a study with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Total body bone mineral content (TBBM), body fat content (BF), and fat-free mass (FFM) were measured in 154 children using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Total body calcium level (TBCa) was calculated from TBBM. Children were divided into groups according to Tanner's stages 1, 2, 4, and 5. Children in stage 3 were not included in the study in order to better differentiate between prepubertal and postpubertal individuals. We did not find differences in TBBM, TBCa, BF, and FFM between Tanner's stages 1 and 2 or between sexes. TBBM and TBCa in stages 4 and 5 were lower in girls than in boys (P < .001 and P < .01, respectively); no differences were observed between girls of both groups, although boys showed significant differences (P < .05). FFM for both sexes was lower in stages 1 and 2 than in stages 4 and 5. Girls showed lower FFM (P < .001) than boys in stages 4 and 5; FFM was higher in boys in stage 5 than in those in stage 4 (P < .005), and the same was true for girls (P < .002). Boys in stage 4 had less BF than girls (P < .005), and the same was true for stage 5 (P < .001). Girls in stages 4 and 5 had greater BF than those in stages 1 and 2 (P < .001). These differences suggest that as boys go through puberty, both TBBM and FFM continue to increase, while in girls only BF and FFM increase. These data indicate clear sex differences in somatic postpubertal development.

Age-related differences in total and regional bone mass: a cross-sectional study with DXA in 429 normal women.

Total body bone mineral content (TBBMC), total body bone mineral density (TBBMD) and regional bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 429 normal women aged 15-83 years, of whom 242 were premenopausal and 187 postmenopausal. The population was divided into 5-year age groups. In the premenopausal women no changes in TBBMC, TBBMD or regional BMC and BMD were observed with age, and TBBMC and TBBMD values correlated well with body weight (p < 0.001). Postmenopausal women showed an overall reduction in bone mass (p < 0.001), more marked at the axial level than peripherally (1.6% vs. 0.8%/year). The values of TBBMC and TBBMD correlated well with chronological age, time since the onset of menopause and body weight (p < 0.001). In these women age did not correlate with body weight, which suggests that postmenopausal bone mass loss depends more on chronological age and time since the onset of menopause than on other variables. The stability observed in bone mass values from ages 15-19 to menopause highlights the importance of stimulating the acquisition of an appropriate peak bone mass in women before adolescence begins.

Bone changes in postmenopausal Spanish women.

Total body bone mass (TBBM), axial bone mass (trunk = chest and spine), and peripheral bone mass (arms and legs) were determined in 258 normal, slow bone mass loser, postmenopausal women, as determined by previous biochemical studies, in order to study the degree of bone mass reduction due to menopause. The subjects of this study were divided into 5-year groups on a year-since-menopause basis. The first group corresponded to 1-5 years since menopause, and the last group to 25 years or over since menopause. An important and significant reduction in trunk bone mass (-12.3%, P < 0.001) and TBBD (-5.8%, P < 0.002), without changes in head, arms, and legs was observed in the first 5-year group. In the next 5-year group, a significant reduction was observed in all body areas, but at a higher rate in the peripheral skeleton (-9% in arms and -7.3% in legs). A slow down in bone mass loss was observed in the period between 10 and 25 years since menopause. These values became significant again after 25 years since menopause at the axial (-28.9%, P < 0.001) and TBBD (-20.3%, P < 0.05) level. Aside from providing percentages of bone mass reduction with respect to age and time since menopause, these data also indicate that measurements of specific body areas may not be extrapolated to others due to different loss in different body areas, and that there is a marked bone loss rate in the axial skeleton in the first 5 years since menopause.

Serum osteocalcin and calcitropic hormones in a homogeneous group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: its implication in the osteopenia of the disease.

Different mechanisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of the generalized osteopenia found in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We measured the calcium, osteocalcin (BGP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin (CT) and 25(OH)D3 levels as well as urine 24 hr calcium, Ca/Cr and OHP/Cr in a homogeneous group of 30 non-disabled patients (10 men, 8 premenopausal women and 12 postmenopausal women) recently diagnosed as having RA (disease duration 4 to 6 months). They had normal serum levels of vitamin K, were not on previous or present treatments known to interfere with calcium metabolism, and were not pregnant if females of fertile age. The group was compared with an age-matched control group of 32 healthy subjects (10 men, 8 premenopausal women and 14 postmenopausal women). We observed significantly decreased levels of 25(OH)D3 (29.9 +/- 9.9 vs 48.7 +/- 12.1 ng/mL; p < 0.005) and significantly increased levels of urine OHP/Cr (2.24 +/- 0.71 vs 1.56 +/- 0.82 mg/mg; p < 0.001) in the RA group. No differences in these two parameters were found between the three subgroups of RA patients. Male RA patients showed decreased levels of serum BGP (7.3 +/- 1.0 vs 8.2 +/- 1.7 ng/mL; p < 0.01). The remaining parameters did not differ significantly between RA patients and controls. These data suggest that the generalised osteopenia found in RA may be a consequence of increased bone resorption without a concomitant increase in bone formation, perhaps related to mechanisms inherent to the disease.

A long term study of 22 children with brucellar arthritis.

Brucellar arthritis remains a serious a problem in Mediterranean countries. In the pediatric group it has not received enough attention. We have analysed the clinical features of 22 children followed in a large hospital for the last 10 years. Fever (68%), malaise (50%), myalgia (18%) and abdominal pain (14%) were the most common systemic symptoms. Three different patterns of arthritis were observed: acute (45%), chronic (41%) and recurrent (14%). Monoarthritis (45%) with hip involvement was very common. Response to treatment with large doses of cotrimoxazol for a long period of time was good. No toxicity was observed.