We have examined LacZ staining in adult Col2a1-Cre(+10); ROSA26R(LacZ) mice, with PRIMA-1MET and without inflammatory arthritis, and found that synovial fibroblasts in normal and inflamed synovium are LacZ positive, but Cre negative. Our results suggest that Cre-mediated recombination in joint interzone cells during development endure in adult synovial cells despite the absence of ongoing Cre expression. These findings have important implications and applications for the study of synovial inflammation in models of experimental arthritis. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Osteoarthritis

Research Society International. All rights reserved.”
“In chronic renal failure patients, hyperphosphatemia has been associated with vascular calcifications and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In vitro observations have shown that calcium and phosphate independently and synergistically induce calcifications in human vascular smooth muscle cells, suggesting an important role for both in the calcification process. Because non-calcium phosphate Baf-A1 binders reduce serum phosphate

without increasing the calcium load, as is the case with calcium-based phosphate binders, it has been speculated that treatment with sevelamer leads to less vascular calcification and better survival in chronic kidney disease. Although the use of sevelamer may slow the progression of vascular calcifications compared with calcium-based phosphate binders, the relationship of this surrogate marker with patients’ cardiovascular mortality and survival is far from certain. To resolve this uncertainty and to determine the most cost-effective way to treat hyperphosphatemia in patients with end-stage renal disease, another

randomized study analyzing mortality comparing check details sevelamer with calcium phosphate binders should be undertaken.”
“Two new strophanthidol cardenolides, toxicarioside N (1) and toxicarioside O (2), together with three known ones, were isolated from the seeds of Antiaris toxicaria. The structures of the new compounds were identified as strophanthidol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 -> 4)-6-deoxy-beta-D-allopyranoside (1) and strophanthidol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), respectively. The cytotoxic test showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against SMMC-7721 and K562. (C) 2012 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: We report the incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) following administration of iodixanol or low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) in patients for suspected peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) undergoing intra-arterial digital angiography (IA-DSA).