Pre-freezing results showed that glycerol concentration had no significant effect on total motility or progressive motility, but it significantly decreased VCL, ALH, viability and acrosomal status (p < 0.05). After thawing, sperm Smad inhibitor motility was higher at extender with 4%, 6% and 8% glycerol, but only at 4% and 6% glycerol for viability and acrosomal status. For 4% and 6% glycerol, freezing rates did not have significant effects. The curve fitting gave an estimate of the optimal glycerol concentration, with all the optimal values for every parameter between 6% and 7% glycerol falling. We propose using 6% glycerol and a freezing velocity of -20 degrees C/min for freezing brown bear ejaculated spermatozoa.”
“Oral

SB525334 TGF-beta/Smad inhibitor Diseases (2012) 18, 525536 Biologic therapies are relatively innovative treatments aimed at modulating lymphocytes or cytokines. There are currently three broad classes

of biologic therapies, tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, lymphocyte modulators and interleukin inhibitors; all are increasingly used in the treatment of inflammatory immune-mediated conditions, and several have potential applications in oral medicine. Guidelines for their use in licensed indications (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease) include recommendations and guidance for patient selection and subsequent monitoring with discussion of potential adverse effects. An understanding of these is important when managing patients receiving biologic therapy for systemic disease, and compliance is essential in any use in oral medicine. Key aspects of current guidance are presented with particular emphasis on their relevance to clinicians working within oral and maxillofacial medicine/pathology/surgery and in specialist practice.”
“Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is a rare hematologic malignancy characterized by aggressive

clinical behavior and frequent cutaneous involvement. We describe a case of a 64-year-old man with a rapidly enlarging subcutaneous forearm mass. Histologic examination Sonidegib concentration of the excisional biopsy specimen revealed a diffuse proliferation of atypical hematolymphoid cells in the dermis extending to the deep subcutaneous soft tissues. Occasional aggregates of small lymphocytes were noted to be distributed within the mass. The tumor cells expressed CD4, CD45, CD56, CD123, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) but not CD3, CD20, or CD34. A diagnosis of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm was rendered. Chromosome analysis revealed a 45 X, -Y karyotype. In addition, flow cytometry identified a small population of monoclonal B cells. A staging bone marrow aspirate and biopsy was performed, which showed normal cytogenetics and no evidence of involvement by blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. Flow cytometric evaluation of the bone marrow revealed a CD5-negative, CD10-negative monoclonal B-cell population consistent with a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder.

We found that Dim1B was capable of substituting the E. coli rRNA dimethylase activity of KsgA. Moreover, we observed methylation of the conserved adenines in the 18S rRNA of Arabidopsis mitochondria; this modification was not detectable in a mutant lacking Dim1B. These data provide evidence: (i) for rRNA methylation in Arabidopsis mitochondria; and (ii) that Dim1B is the enzyme catalyzing this process.”
“The serotonin transporter (5-HTT) is of great significance in the control of the serotonergic system, and its expression is known to be upregulated in psoriasis, a chronic or recurrent inflammatory

skin disease. We investigated a possible association between the 5-HTT selleck kinase inhibitor gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and psoriasis in a Thai population. One hundred and fifty-six psoriatic patients and 156 unrelated healthy

controls from Bangkok were genotyped using PCR. We found no overall differences in genotype distributions selleck inhibitor or allele frequencies between the two groups. In addition, when subgroups of psoriatic patients classified by either onset or severity were analyzed, no significant association between this polymorphism and any subgroup was observed. We conclude that 5-HTTLPR is not associated with susceptibility to psoriasis in this Thai population.”
“Background: It has long been assumed that newly absorbed vitamin A and E enter the body only via enterocyte-produced chylomicrons. However, recent results in cell cultures have shown that a fraction of alpha-tocopherol is secreted with intestinal HDL.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to identify this transporter and to assess whether it is significantly implicated in the

in vivo intestinal absorption of the 2 main dietary forms of vitamin E (ie, alpha- and gamma-tocopherol) and in that of retinyl palmitate (vitamin A).

Design: Having performed preliminary experiments in the find more Caco-2 cell model, we compared fasting and postprandial plasma concentrations of vitamins A and E in mice deficient in ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) transporter and in wild-type mice.

Results: A substantial efflux of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, but not of retinyl esters, was induced by the presence of apolipoprotein A-I at the basolateral side of Caco-2 monolayers. The efflux of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol was also impaired by glyburide and 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid. The postprandial response of plasma gamma-tocopherol was 4-fold lower in ABCA1(-/-) mice (P = 0.025) than in wild-type mice, whereas no significant difference was observed for retinyl esters. Fasting plasma alpha-tocopherol, but not vitamin A, concentrations were lower in mice bearing the genetic deletion.

(C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 2703-2709, 2010″
“One selection pressure shaping sequence evolution is the requirement that a protein fold with sufficient stability to perform its biological functions. We present a conceptual framework that explains how this requirement causes the probability that a particular amino acid mutation is fixed during evolution to depend on its effect

on protein stability. We mathematically formalize this framework to develop a Bayesian approach for inferring the stability effects of individual mutations from homologous protein sequences of known phylogeny. This approach is able to predict published experimentally measured mutational stability effects (Delta Delta G values) with an accuracy that exceeds both a state-of-the-art find more physicochemical modeling program and the sequence-based consensus approach. As a further test, we use our phylogenetic inference approach to predict stabilizing mutations to influenza hemagglutinin. We introduce these mutations into a temperature-sensitive influenza virus with a defect in its hemagglutinin gene and experimentally demonstrate that some of the mutations allow the virus to grow at higher temperatures. Our work therefore describes a powerful new approach for predicting Selleckchem PARP inhibitor stabilizing mutations that can be successfully applied

even to large, complex proteins such as hemagglutinin. This approach also makes a mathematical link between phylogenetics and experimentally measurable protein properties, potentially paving the way for more accurate analyses of molecular evolution.”
“Single phase cubic Gd2O3 nanophosphor codoped with Eu3+ and Yb3+ ions has been synthesized through solution combustion route. Structural properties have been investigated using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy

(TEM). The as-synthesized Gd2O3 phosphor shows amorphous nature which changes to crystalline single cubic phase check details on annealing. Optical properties have been investigated through absorption, photoluminescence, and lifetime measurements. Intense red emission (D-5(0)-> F-7(2)) is observed both from cooperative upconversion (Yb3++Yb3+-> Eu3+ on 976 nm excitation) as well as through downconversion process (on 355 nm excitation). The unusual and rarely reported emissions from the higher lying D-5(J) (J=2, 3, and 4) to F-7(J) (J=0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) levels are also observed with 976 nm excitation. Nearly twenty two times enhancement in the intensity of the hypersensitive transition (D-5(0)-> F-7(2)) along with an increase in the decay time (770 mu s) is observed for the sample annealed at 1200 degrees C on 355 nm excitation. These observations have been explained satisfactorily. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3373628]“
“As accurate discrimination between Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and NSA (non-S.

The pathways and signals

covered here include namely the death receptors, BCL-2 family, caspases, calpains, cdk5, p53, PARP-1, autophagy, mitophagy, mitochondrial fragmentation, and parthanatos. The review will present evidence from postmortem PD studies, toxin-induced models (especially MPTP/MPP+, 6-hydroxydopamine SB525334 and rotenone), and from alpha-synuclein, LRRK2, Parkin, DJ-1, and PINK1 genetic models of PD, both in vitro and in vivo.”
“Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of performing electrocochleography (ECoG) at the initial visit in predicting hearing outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary hospital.

Patients: Ninety patients with unilateral, definite Meniere’s disease.

Interventions: The summating potential

(SP)/action potential (AP) ratio was obtained using ECoG at the initial visits. An SP/AP ratio greater than 0.34 was considered abnormal.

Main Outcome Measures: Audiogram types, hearing fluctuations, hearing thresholds at the initial and last visits, hearing changes, caloric response, and treatment outcomes were analyzed in subjects with normal and abnormal ECoGs. Correlation analyses between the SP/AP ratio at the initial visit, hearing thresholds at each visit, and hearing changes were performed.

Results: The mean follow-up period was 22.6 months. Abnormal ECoGs were found in 50 (55.6%) of the 90 subjects. No significant differences regarding audiogram types, hearing fluctuations, caloric response, or treatment outcomes 17DMAG inhibitor were observed between subjects with normal and abnormal ECoGs. Ipsilateral SP/AP ratios at the initial visit were correlated with both hearing thresholds at the initial (r = 0.347, p < 0.001) and

last (r = 0.435, p < 0.001) visits. Furthermore, there was a significant LCL161 mw correlation between SP/AP ratio and hearing change during follow-up (r = 0.280, p = 0.008). After stratification by initial hearing level, Stage 1 and 2 subjects (hearing threshold, 0-40 dB) with abnormal ECoGs at the initial visit showed a decrease in hearing over time compared with those with normal ECoGs (p = 0.008).

Conclusion: A high SP/AP ratio at the initial visit may be used as a predictor of poor hearing outcomes in subjects with Meniere’s disease, especially with initial hearing Stage 1 and 2.”
“OBJECTIVE: In a 3-year period, the main mode of access for hysterectomy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital changed from abdominal to laparoscopic. We estimated potential effects of this shift on perioperative outcomes and costs.

METHODS: We compared the perioperative outcomes and the cost of care for all hysterectomies performed in 2006 and 2009 at an urban academic tertiary care center using the chi(2) test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and two-sided Student’s t test for continuous variables. A multivariate regression analysis was also performed for the major perioperative outcomes across the study groups.

Regarding measures of mismatched radiograms, the inter-and intraobserver MAD values were higher in the Cobb method (<9.81 degrees vs. <3.82 degrees), and >5 degrees in six comparisons. And, the ICCs were higher in the centroid method (>0.972) than the Cobb method (>0.758). In immature radiograms, the ICCs were higher in the centroid (>0.973) than in the Cobb method (>0.764), even though it was in the excellent range. And, the inter-and intraobserver MAD values were higher

in the Cobb method (<8.49 degrees vs. <3.99 degrees), and >5 degrees in seven comparisons.

Conclusion. The centroid method is more reliable selleck chemicals for measuring scoliosis in AIS than the Cobb method, and it can substitute the Cobb method, which showed high variability.”
“To better understand genomic DNA methylation in MG-132 solubility dmso sibling plant cultivars, methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analysis was used to investigate two sibling tobacco cultivars, Yunyan85 and Yunyan87, and their two parents, K326 and Yunyan No. 2. Differences in the degree of genomic DNA methylation were found among the four tobacco cultivars. Compared with parents, the

two sibling cultivars had fewer methylated sites. Twenty-nine methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism fragments that exhibited methylation alteration in the four tobacco cultivars were recovered and sequenced. BLAST (nucleotide BLAST) searches showed that two of the 29 sequences have 99% similarity with nucleotides 1442-1694 of the nia-1 gene and the other 27 sequences contain GC, CAAT or TATA box. The nitrate reductase genes from Yunyan87, K326 and Yunyan No. 2 were found to be identical; however, the third intron of the nitrate reductase gene from Yunyan85 was different compared to the third introns

of Yunyan87, K326 and Yunyan No. 2. We conclude that methylation alteration of promoter regions could be responsible for the different phenotypes in tobacco and that introns of the nitrate reductase gene can vary as a result of intra-species crossing in tobacco.”
“Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is the first key hormone of reproduction. GnRH analogs are extensively used in in vitro fertilization and treatment of sex hormone-dependent cancers due to their ability to bring about ‘chemical castration’. Recently it has been showed that it also plays an important selleck kinase inhibitor role in the modulation of the immune system. We report a case of vasculitis and histologically proven severe polymyositis developed 5 days after GnRH administration due to ovulation induction in an infertile patient with no previous history of autoimmune diseases. After treatment with corticosteroids (prednisone, 30 mg daily), aspirin, and pentoxyphyllin in combination with rehabilitation, an amelioration of muscle impairment was observed.”
“Cigarette smoking is common among patients in cocaine and opioid dependence treatment, and may influence treatment outcome.

Taken together, our data suggest that TRPC3 activation may be essential for the induction of LTD in cerebellar Purkinje cells.”
“SETTING: Banteay PARP activity Meanchey Province, Cambodia. OBJECTIVE: Cambodia has the highest incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Asia.

Not all TB patients are tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We assessed the association between distance to HIV testing facility and HIV testing rates.

METHODS: We analyzed data on TB patients from 11 clinics to determine the proportion tested for HIV infection. We categorized each TB clinic as having a voluntary confidential counseling and testing (VCCT) center onsite, or being at < 15 min, 15-30 min or >30 min driving distance to the nearest VCCT.

RESULTS: Of 1017TB patients not previously tested for HIV, 708 (70%) were tested. Of 481 TB patients without onsite VCCT, 297 (62%) were tested, compared to 410 (77%) of 535 TB patients with onsite VCCT (RR 0.6,95%CI 0.5-0.7). When the VCCT site was >15 min from the TB clinic, HIV testing occurred only half as frequently as when onsite VCCT was available.

CONCLUSION: TB patients treated at clinics without

CH5424802 solubility dmso onsite or nearby HIV testing are less commonly tested for HIV infection. Making HIV testing available to TB patients without the necessity of traveling to a distant HIV testing site is likely to increase HIV testing rates.”
“Objectives: The diagnostic value of calcitonin measurement in fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) washout fluid (Ct-FNAB) for medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) remains to be determined. This prospective study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of Ct-FNAB in thyroid nodules in comparison with basal serum calcitonin (Ct), pentagastrin-stimulated Ct (Pg-sCt), and cytology.

Methods: Among patients with goiter addressed with US-FNAB who had an initial clinical suggestion for thyroidectomy, 27 patients with thyroid nodule/s (n = 60) and normal, borderline, or increased Ct fulfilled the criteria

for thyroidectomy. this website All 27 patients (enrolled according to exclusion/inclusion criteria) underwent ultrasonography (US), Ct, Pg-sCt, US-assisted FNAB of each patient’s nodule for both cytology, and Ct-FNAB before thyroidectomy.

Results: Ct-FNAB always resulted in >1,000 pg/mL in MTC nodules at histology. For values between 36 and 1,000 pg/mL, MTCs and nodular or micronodular C-cell hyperplasia (CCH) results overlapped. Most of the nodules without MTC and/or CCH had Ct-FNAB <= 17 pg/mL. Ct-FNAB diagnostic power was superior to and similar to other diagnostic procedures (Ct, Pg-sCt, and cytology) in identifying both MTC and CCH, and MTC alone, respectively.

Conclusion: The diagnostic power of Ct-FNAB is valuable compared with other routine procedures. Ct-FNAB is highly reliable for the early detection and accurate localization of MTC in thyroid nodules, but it does not differentiate between MTC and CCH.

METHOD: A total of 129 patients with injuries of the posterolateral corner of the knee that lasted for more than three weeks and were associated with the lesion of at least one of the cruciate ligaments were included. All of the patients were operated on consecutively in the same hospital between March 2004 and April 2009. Clinical evaluation using the Lyshom scale and the International BI-D1870 order Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC, item 4, assessment

ligament) protocol was performed in 114 patients for whom there were complete data available.

RESULTS: There was significant improvement in the Lyshom score and improved stability according to the IKDC protocol in the pre-compared to postoperative varus stress test at 30 degrees and the posterolateral rotation test.

CONCLUSIONS: Surgical reconstruction of the posterolateral corner of the

knee with biceps femoris tendon and fascia lata autografts is effective in stabilizing the posterolateral corner of the knee.”
“Objective To describe a slowly progressive retinopathy (SPR) in Shetland Sheepdogs. Animals Forty adult Shetlands Sheepdogs with ophthalmoscopic signs of SPR and six normal Shetland Sheepdogs were included in the study.

Procedure Ophthalmic examination including slit-lamp biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy was performed in all dogs. Electroretinograms and obstacle course-test were performed in 13 affected and 6 normal dogs. The SPR dogs were subdivided into two groups according to their dark-adapted b-wave amplitudes. SPR1-dogs had ophthalmoscopic signs of SPR, but normal dark-adapted https://www.selleckchem.com/products/cbl0137-cbl-0137.html b-wave amplitudes. Dogs with both ophthalmoscopic signs and subnormal, dark-adapted b-wave amplitudes were assigned to group SPR2. Eyes from two SPR2 dogs were obtained for microscopic examination.

Results The ophthalmoscopic changes included bilateral, symmetrical,

greyish discoloration in the peripheral Vadimezan research buy tapetal fundus with normal or marginally attenuated vessels. Repeated examination showed that the ophthalmoscopic changes slowly spread across the central parts of the tapetal fundus, but did not progress to obvious neuroretinal thinning presenting as tapetal hyper-reflectivity. The dogs did not appear seriously visually impaired. SPR2 showed significantly reduced b-wave amplitudes throughout dark-adaptation. Microscopy showed thinning of the outer nuclear layer and abnormal appearance of rod and cone outer segments. Testing for the progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd)-mutation in three dogs with SPR was negative.

Conclusion Slowly progressive retinopathy is a generalized rod-cone degeneration that on ophthalmoscopy looks similar to early stages of progressive retinal atrophy. The ophthalmoscopic findings are slowly progressive without tapetal hyper-reflectivity. Visual impairment is not obvious and the electroretinogram is more subtly altered than in progressive retinal atrophy. The etiology remains unclear.

During the past half century, it was recognized that the impact of high As exposure on human health is much more complicated than originally anticipated. Chronic As exposure resulted

in infamous blackfoot disease, which is unique to As endemic areas in Taiwan, and various diseases including cancers and non-cancers. Although the potential-biological outcomes have been well-documented, the pathomechanisms leading from As exposure to occurrence and development of the diseases remain largely unclear. One of the major obstacles that hindered further understanding Entinostat regarding the adverse health effect resulting from chronic As exposure is documentation of cumulative As exposure from the distant past, which remains difficult as the present technologies mostly document relatively recent As exposure. Furthermore, the susceptibility to As exposure appears to differ between different ethnic groups and individuals and is modified by lifestyle factors including smoking habits and Selleckchem GW786034 nutrition status. No consensus data has yet been reached even after comparing the study results obtained from different parts of the world focusing on associations between human As toxicity and genetic polymorphisms in terms of cellular detoxification enzymes, tumor suppressor proteins,

and DNA repair pathway. With the availability of the new powerful “”OMIC”" technologies, it may now be possible to gain new path-breaking insights regarding this important environmental health issue. The lessons learned from the past half-century placed Taiwan in an experienced position to actively participate in the international collaborative projects using these novel technologies

and standardized methods. Copyright (C) 2011, Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.”
“The effects of different surfactants on the properties of multiwalled carbon nanotubes/polypropylene (MWCNT/PP) nanocomposites prepared by a melt mixing method have been investigated. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaDDBS) were used as a means GDC-0941 chemical structure of noncovalent functionalization of MWCNTs to help them to be dispersed uniformly into the PP matrix. The effects of these surfactant-treated MWCNTs on morphological, rheological, thermal, crystalline, mechanical, and electrical properties of MWCNT/PP composites were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy, optical microscopy, rheometry, tensile, and electrical conductivity tests. It was found that the surfactant-treatment and micromixing resulted in a great improvement in the state of dispersion of MWCNTs in the polymer matrix, leading to a significant enhancement of Young’s modulus and tensile strength of the composites. For example, with the addition of only 2 wt % of SDS-treated and NaDDBS-treated MWCNTs, the Young’s modulus of PP increased by 61.1 and 86.1%, respectively. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

She received steroid replacement therapy for 4 weeks and her adrenal function progressively recovered. She also needed thyroxine supplementation for 13 weeks, which maintained her thyroid function as euthyroid. Because she exhibited cortisol insufficiency and thyroid hormone insufficiency, the antecedent thyroid hormone replacement may be responsible for the onset of LCD. We must consider monitoring adrenal function when starting thyroxine therapy in premature infants with hypothyroxinemia.”
“Objectives To describe the psychological needs

of adolescent survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or brain tumor (BT), we examined the following: (i) the occurrence of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional concerns identified during a comprehensive psychological evaluation and (ii) the frequency of referrals for psychological

follow-up services to address identified concerns. MK-2206 in vitro Methods Psychological concerns were identified on measures according to predetermined criteria for 100 adolescent survivors. Referrals Selleckchem Ruboxistaurin for psychological follow-up services were made for concerns previously unidentified in formal assessment or not adequately addressed by current services. Results Most survivors (82%) exhibited at least one concern across domains: behavioral (76%), cognitive (47%), and emotional (19%). Behavioral concerns emerged most often on scales associated with executive dysfunction, inattention, learning, and peer difficulties. Cranial radiation therapy was associated with cognitive concerns, 4SC-202 2(1, N=100)=5.63, p<0.05. Lower income was associated with more cognitive concerns for ALL survivors, t(47)=3.28, p<0.01, and more behavioral concerns for BT survivors, t(48)=2.93, p<0.01. Of the survivors with concerns, 38% were referred for psychological follow-up services. Lower-income ALL survivors received more referrals for follow-up, 2(1, N=41)=8.05, p<0.01. Referred survivors had more concerns

across domains than non-referred survivors, ALL: t(39)=2.96, p<0.01; BT: t(39)=3.52, p<0.01. Trends suggest ALL survivors may be at risk for experiencing unaddressed cognitive needs. Conclusions Many adolescent survivors of cancer experience psychological difficulties that are not adequately managed by current services, underscoring the need for long-term surveillance. In addition to prescribing regular psychological evaluations, clinicians should closely monitor whether current support services appropriately meet survivors’ needs, particularly for lower-income survivors and those treated with cranial radiation therapy. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles associated with chronic inflammation. APPswe/PS1dE9 is an AD mouse model bearing mutant transgenes of amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1. Amyloid deposition is present in this mouse model at early stage of life.

Among the ternary nanocomposites, the maximum increase in tensile strength and tensile modulus values was observed for nanocomposites containing

17-AAG organoclay Cloisite (R) 15A. The improvement with respect to neat LDPE was 43% for tensile strength and 44% for tensile modulus. According to the mechanical analysis, the best sequence of component addition was the one in which LDPE, organoclay, and compatibilizer were simultaneously fed to the extruder in the first run, and the product of the first run was extruded once more. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120: 3087-3097, 2011″
“Study Design. Immunoblotting study to evaluate aggrecan degradation patterns in rat intervertebral discs (IVDs) subjected

to mechanical overload.

Objective. To evaluate the effects of in vivo dynamic compression overloading on aggrecan degradation products associated with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and aggrecanase activity in different regions of the IVD.

Summary of Background Data. Aggrecan cleavage at the MMP and aggrecanase sites is an important event in human IVD aging, with distinct cleavage patterns in the anulus and nucleus regions. No such information is available on regional variations in rat IVDs, nor on how such cleavage is affected by mechanical loading.

Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented with an Ilizarov-type Apoptosis Compound Library device and subjected to dynamic compression (1 MPa and 1 Hz for 8 hours per day for 8 weeks). Control, AZD8931 sham, and overloaded IVDs were separated by disc region and analyzed for aggrecan degradation products using immunoblotting techniques, with antibodies specific for the aggrecanase

and MMP cleavage sites in the interglobular domain of aggrecan.

Results. Control IVDs exhibited strong regional variation in aggrecan degradation patterns with minimal degradation products being present in the nucleus pulposus, degradation products associated with aggrecanase cleavage predominating in the inner anulus fibrosus (AF), and degradation products associated with MMP cleavage predominating in the outer AF. Dynamic compression overloading increased the amount of aggrecan degradation products associated with MMP cleavage not only in the AF but also in the nucleus pulposus. Degradation profiles of sham IVDs were similar to control.

Conclusion. Aggrecan G1 regions resulting from proteolysis were found to have a strong regionally specific pattern in the rat IVD, which was altered under excessive loading. The shift from aggrecanase to MMP-induced degradation products with dynamic compression overloading suggests that protein degradation and loss can precede major structural disruption in the IVD, and that MMP-induced aggrecan degradation may be a marker of mechanically induced disc degeneration.