Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Gremlin1 is required for skeletal development and postnatal skeletal homeostasis

Abstract: Gremlin is an antagonist of bone morphogenetic proteins, and its overexpression causes suppressed osteoblastogenesis and osteopenia. Inactivation of Grem1 results in severe developmental defects, but the consequences of the global inactivation of Grem1 on the postnatal skeleton are not known. To study the function of gremlin, Grem1 was inactivated by homologous recombination, and mice were maintained in a C57BL/6/FVB mixed genetic background due to embryonic and neonatal lethality in the uniform C57BL/6 background. Grem1 null mice exhibited developmental skeletal abnormalities, leading to incomplete formation of metatarsal bones and of fore limbs and hind limbs. Grem1 null mice exhibited decreased weight and body fat and shortened femoral length. Bone histomorphometric and microarchitectural analyses of distal femurs revealed decreased bone volume and increased bone formation in 1-month-old Grem1 null mice. Trabecular femoral bone volume was restored in older Grem1 null female mice, and to a lesser extent in male mice. Vertebral microarchitecture confirmed the osteopenia observed in 1-month-old Grem1 null mice and demonstrated recovery of trabecular bone in older female, but not in older male Grem1 null mice, which exhibited persistent vertebral osteopenia. In conclusion, Grem1 is not only necessary for skeletal development, but also for postnatal skeletal homeostasis; its inactivation causes osteopenia, which is partially reversed in a spatial, temporal, and sex-dependent manner due to an increase in bone formation.

Evidence for the use of the antibiotic lock technique.

Abstract: Long-term central venous catheters are essential for the treatment of patients requiring long-term intravenous medications, blood product support, and total parenteral nutrition. Thrombosis and infection, complications commonly associated with the use of these devices, represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality. To reduce the incidence of device removal because of persistent central venous catheter-related infection, the novel use of a highly concentrated antibiotic "lock" solution instilled into the catheter lumen for a defined time has been explored. This technique has been successful in numerous small uncontrolled studies, suggesting that an antibiotic lock may be effective in salvaging infected central venous access devices. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines on the management of central venous access device infections support the use of this technique only for patients requiring long-term access who repeatedly experience catheter-related bloodstream infections despite stringent catheter care. Additional studies are warranted to support these preliminary data.

Lidocaine as a Diluent for Ceftriaxone in the Treatment of Gonorrhea: Does It Reduce the Pain of the Injection?

Abstract: Objective: To compare the pain associated with ceftriaxone sodium injections by using two different diluents, ie, lidocaine hydrochloride and sterile water. Design: Prospective study of adolescents who were culture positive for gonorrhea. Random selection of the diluent used for the intramuscular ceftriaxone therapy. Setting: Urban, hospital-based adolescent medicine Subjects: Thirty-nine adolescents and young adults, predominantly of black or Hispanic backgrounds, ranging in age between 14 and 23 years (mean age, 17.6 years; median age, 17 years), of whom 27 were females. Methods: Pain predictions were elicited from the adolescents before treatment. Pain ratings were obtained at five time intervals after the injections. All ratings were obtained by using a visual analog scale. Results: No pain prediction differences before the injection were noted between the two groups. Individual t tests showed significant pain differences between the two groups at the time after the injection and at 10- and 20-minute and 6-hour intervals. Repeated-measuresanalysis of variance models showed that the diluent effect on pain was significant. Conclusion: Lidocaine can reduce the amount of pain of an intramuscular injection of ceftriaxone when compared with sterile water as a diluent. These findings have implications not only for the treatment of gonorrhea but also for other situations where intramuscular injections utilizing a diluent may be necessary. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148:72-75)

Enzymes responsible for chlorate reduction by Pseudomonas sp. are different from those used for perchlorate reduction by Azospira sp.

Abstract: Pseudomonas sp. PDA is an unusual bacterium due to its ability to respire using chlorate under aerobic conditions. The chlorate reductase produced by PDA was shown to be intrinsically different from the enzyme responsible for chlorate and perchlorate [(per)chlorate] reduction produced by Azospira sp. KJ based on subunit composition and other enzyme properties. The perchlorate reductase from strain KJ appeared to have two subunits (100 and 40 kDa) while the chlorate reductase from PDA had three subunits (60, 48, and 27 kDa). N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the 100 kDa protein from strain KJ showed a 77% similarity with the perchlorate reductase alpha subunit from another perchlorate-respiring bacterium, Dechloromonas agitata, while the N-terminus amino acid sequence of the 60 kDa protein from strain PDA did not show a similarity to previously isolated chlorate or perchlorate reductases.