Growth and inhibition of monohydrate sodium urate banded spherulites

Gout is a chronic arthritis arises from the abnormal crystalline deposition of monosodium urate (MSU). Banded spherulites of MSU were widely observed in gout pathological slices (Pascual et al., Nat....

286 Effects of dietary MINTREX trace minerals in a sodium urate-induced transient lameness model in pigs and validation of lameness measurements

Lameness in gilts and sows has an economic impact on pig production and is a major welfare concern. Study objectives were to compare subjective and objective lameness measurements and assess efficacy of chelated trace minerals in finisher pigs. Two dietary treatments: metal methionine hydroxy analogue chelate (MMHAC) supplied as MINTREX® Zn-Cu-Mn (Novus International, Inc.) supplemented at 80-10-20 mg/kg diet; and sulfates Zn-Cu-Mn supplemented at 120-20-40 mg/kg diet were fed. Four groups of pigs (50-70 kg; 8 pigs/grp) were fed dietary treatments for a duration of 8 wk prior to injection of 2 mg sodium urate crystals into the right rear distal interphalangeal joint. Data collection occurred at baseline, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 144 hr post-urate injection. Measurements included gait scoring (0-4), a panel of serum biomarkers for synthesis and degradation of cartilage (P2CP, CTX2, C2C), bone (osteocalcin, CTX1) and static force-plate. A Proc Mixed GLM procedure of SAS was used and means were determined using a Tukey test. Urate injections resulted in elevated gait scores, peaking at 12 hr and similar to baseline at 72 hr; pigs fed MMHAC had lower gait scores (P< 0.01) compared to sulfate. C2C (P=0.09), CTX2 (P=0.10) and osteocalcin (P< 0.01) paralleled closely to changes in gait score, peaking at 12 h and returning to baseline at 24 to 72 hr. Osteocalcin (P=0.07) and osteocalcin: CTX1 ratio (P=0.05) were increased with MMHAC. These findings demonstrate that biomarkers can distinguish between healthy vs lame pigs and MMHAC, at lower concentrations vs sulfates, reduced gait score and increased osteocalcin.

NEFROLITIASIS PADA ANAK USIA TIGA TAHUN DI RSUD DR. HI. ABDUL MOELOEK, LAMPUNG: SEBUAH LAPORAN KASUS

ABSTRACT Background: The incidence of nephrolithiasis in children increases over time. It has been reported an increase of 6 to 10% per year for the last twenty-five years. Research in developing country showed that urinary tract infection and metabolic disorders were the caused of nephrolithiasis. Illustration Case: Three years 10 months old boy had a complaint of pain in plank region followed by tea-like urine since two months ago. Physical examination showed that he appeared to be moderately ill and compos mentis. His physical examinations were normal except positive ballotement and positive costoverebral angle (CVA) pain in the right flank region. Laboratory finding showed positive eritrocyte in urinalysis. Ultrasonography and abdominal CT-scan consistent with nephrolithiasis. Management: Pyelolitotomy was performed under general anesthesia. Postoperatively, patient treated in a pediatric surgery room and observation was carried out. He was given D5NS 500 ml administered 20 drops per minute microdrip IV, paracetamol 3 x 225 mg IV, and cefotaxime injection 2 x 500 mg IV after a skin test first. Result and Follow Up: An irregular stone 1,5 cm x 1 cm in size consist of 45% ammonium urate, 31% sodium urate monohydrate, and 24% amorphous calcium phosphate carbonate was found. Discussion: Nephrolithiasis in children occurs due to several related conditions such as genetics, ethnicity, climate, and nutrition. Complications can be prevented by managing and controlling appropriate risk factors.

Level of Agreement with the Microscopic Analysis of Joint Aspirate for the Diagnosis of Gout in the Lower Extremity

Background Although clinical findings, laboratory serum markers, and radiographic images are also used, the purported gold standard or standard reference test for the diagnosis of gout is microscopic analysis of aspirated joint fluid. This observational investigation sought to identify the level of agreement with the microscopic analysis of joint fluid aspirate for the diagnosis of gout in the lower extremity between two departments in a single health-care center. Methods A retrospective medical record review identified consecutive patients seen for suspected gout who underwent diagnostic joint aspiration. Patients were included if a lower-extremity joint synovial fluid sample was obtained and were excluded if they were not independently evaluated by both the departments of rheumatology and pathology. We categorized the documented joint fluid findings into four groups: no crystals, sodium urate crystals, calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals, or both sodium urate and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals. We defined a “clinically significant disagreement” as one department observing any type of crystals and the other department observing no crystals. Results We observed a clinically significant disagreement rate of 23.26% (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.496). The department of rheumatology was more likely to observe the presence of crystals in a sample compared with the department of pathology (88.37% versus 65.12%; P = .02). Conclusions These results provide evidence that microscopic analysis of joint fluid aspirate might lack the accuracy and reliability needed to be considered a gold standard diagnostic test for gout in the lower extremity.

A Flexible Optical Sensor for Microalbuminuria Spectroscopy

A flexible optical sensor unit was developed for the detection of albumin level in human urine. It consists of polydimethylsiloxane thinfilm with the microscopic glass as the substrate. A gradual increase of albumin level may indicate signs of health problem such as diabetes, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction. The experimental results showed there are a spectral shift and an increase in absorbed light increase in intensity of light with sodium urate at different concentration as a substitute of urine sample. The transmittance and reflection of PDMS was determined in the 400–1400 nm wavelength range using halogen-detrium as the excitation light source to predict the sensor sensitivity based on the Beer–Lambert law. The results exhibited that the light intensity increases as the concentration of the sodium urate increases. This performance of prototype sensor ignites an alternative for albumin detection using flexible structure.

Elevated synovial fluid concentration of adenosine triphosphate in dogs with osteoarthritis or sodium urate-induced synovitis of the stifle

SummaryAdenosine triphosphate has been shown to stimulate nociceptive nerve terminals in joints. Elevated synovial fluid adenosine tri -phosphate concentrations as well as a correlation between synovial fluid adenosine tri -phosphate concentrations and osteoarthritic knee pain has been demonstrated in humans, but not yet in dogs. This study documented elevated synovial fluid adenosine triphosphate concentrations in the stifles of dogs with secondary osteoarthritis and urate-induced synovitis, as compared to normal stifles.