BACKGROUND: Recruitment and homing cells into graft materials from host tissue is crucial for bone regeneration. METHODS: Highly porous, multi-level structural, hydroxyapatite bone void filler (HA-BVF) have been investigated to restore critical size bone defects. The aim was to investigate a feasibility of bone regeneration of synthetic HA-BVF compared to commercial xenograft (Bio-Oss). HA-BVF of 0.7 mm in average diameter was prepared via template coating method. Groups of animals (n = 6) were divided into two with normal (Sham) or induced osteoporotic conditions (Ovx). Subsequently, subdivided into three treated with HA-BVF as an experiment or Bio-Oss as a positive control or no treatment as a negative control (defect). The new bone formation was analyzed by micro-CT and histology. RESULTS: At 4 weeks post-surgery, new bone formation was initiated from all groups. At 8 weeks post-surgery, new bone formation in the HA-BVF groups was greater than Bio-Oss groups. Extraordinarily greater bone regeneration within the Ovx-HA group than Sham-Bio-Oss or Ovx-Bio-Oss group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the immediate wicking property of HA-BVF from host tissue activates a natural healing cascade without the addition of exogeneous factors or progenitor cells. HA-BVF may be an effective alternative for repairing bone defects under both normal and osteoporotic bone conditions.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration* ; Capillary Action* ; Durapatite ; Heterografts ; Methods ; Models, Animal* ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Rats* ; Stem Cells ; Transplants*

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and cardiovascular safety of romosozumab compared with placebo. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched from Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science until July 2022. Primary outcomes included the change in bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline at month 6. The secondary outcomes were the change of bone turnover markers (N-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP); C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX)) from baseline at month 3, and the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events for the total follow-up period. Results: A total of 7 RCTs on 8,370patients were included. Romosozumab showed better effects in improving BMD in both lumbar spine and femoral neck at month 6 (standardized mean difference, SMD 2.20 [95% CI: 1.89-2.52], SMD 0.63 [95% CI: 0.41-0.86]). In contrast to placebo, romosozumab significantly increased PINP levels and reduced CTX levels at month 3 (SMD 0.93 [95% CI: 0.65-1.22], SMD −1.03 [95% CI: −1.23~ −0.82]. However, there was no significant difference in the composite incidence of cardiovascular adverse events and major adverse cardiovascular events (OR 1.16 [95% CI: 0.82-1.65], OR 1.08 [95% CI: 0.75-1.56]). Conclusion This analysis showed that romosozumab significantly improved BMD compared to placebo and was beneficial for change in bone turnover markers. There is no significant difference in the incidence of cardiovascular adverse events compared to placebo.

Background: This study sought to research the implementation of pharmaceutical care services and review the pharmaceutical care services used for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: All articles reporting pharmacists’ implementation of pharmaceutical care services during the COVID-19 pandemic were comprehensively searched in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases up toJuly 7, 2021, then included in this study. Twenty-four items of pharmaceutical care services were classified into the following 5categories: patient evaluation and monitoring, clinical decision support, compounding/dispensing/administration, patient consultation and education, and drug-related policy research and development. Results: A total of 674 articles from 100 countrieswere included, with the United States of America being the most frequently studied country. Across the 5 classified categories,compounding/dispensing/administration was most frequently examined (28.9%), followed by patient consultation and education (25.2%). Among the 24 items of pharmaceutical care services, medicine supply management was most frequently reported on (11.4%), followed by patient consultations (11.0%). The primary implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination were public health education, COVID-19 testing services, medicine supply management, and vaccination, respectively. Conclusion Pharmacists have implemented diverse pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination globally. Further studies should be conducted to determine the correlation between the characteristics of healthcare accessibility in a country and the implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19.

Background: This study sought to research the implementation of pharmaceutical care services and review the pharmaceutical care services used for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: All articles reporting pharmacists’ implementation of pharmaceutical care services during the COVID-19 pandemic were comprehensively searched in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases up toJuly 7, 2021, then included in this study. Twenty-four items of pharmaceutical care services were classified into the following 5categories: patient evaluation and monitoring, clinical decision support, compounding/dispensing/administration, patient consultation and education, and drug-related policy research and development. Results: A total of 674 articles from 100 countrieswere included, with the United States of America being the most frequently studied country. Across the 5 classified categories,compounding/dispensing/administration was most frequently examined (28.9%), followed by patient consultation and education (25.2%). Among the 24 items of pharmaceutical care services, medicine supply management was most frequently reported on (11.4%), followed by patient consultations (11.0%). The primary implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination were public health education, COVID-19 testing services, medicine supply management, and vaccination, respectively. Conclusion Pharmacists have implemented diverse pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination globally. Further studies should be conducted to determine the correlation between the characteristics of healthcare accessibility in a country and the implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19.

Background: This study sought to research the implementation of pharmaceutical care services and review the pharmaceutical care services used for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: All articles reporting pharmacists’ implementation of pharmaceutical care services during the COVID-19 pandemic were comprehensively searched in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases up toJuly 7, 2021, then included in this study. Twenty-four items of pharmaceutical care services were classified into the following 5categories: patient evaluation and monitoring, clinical decision support, compounding/dispensing/administration, patient consultation and education, and drug-related policy research and development. Results: A total of 674 articles from 100 countrieswere included, with the United States of America being the most frequently studied country. Across the 5 classified categories,compounding/dispensing/administration was most frequently examined (28.9%), followed by patient consultation and education (25.2%). Among the 24 items of pharmaceutical care services, medicine supply management was most frequently reported on (11.4%), followed by patient consultations (11.0%). The primary implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination were public health education, COVID-19 testing services, medicine supply management, and vaccination, respectively. Conclusion Pharmacists have implemented diverse pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination globally. Further studies should be conducted to determine the correlation between the characteristics of healthcare accessibility in a country and the implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19.

Background: This study sought to research the implementation of pharmaceutical care services and review the pharmaceutical care services used for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: All articles reporting pharmacists’ implementation of pharmaceutical care services during the COVID-19 pandemic were comprehensively searched in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases up toJuly 7, 2021, then included in this study. Twenty-four items of pharmaceutical care services were classified into the following 5categories: patient evaluation and monitoring, clinical decision support, compounding/dispensing/administration, patient consultation and education, and drug-related policy research and development. Results: A total of 674 articles from 100 countrieswere included, with the United States of America being the most frequently studied country. Across the 5 classified categories,compounding/dispensing/administration was most frequently examined (28.9%), followed by patient consultation and education (25.2%). Among the 24 items of pharmaceutical care services, medicine supply management was most frequently reported on (11.4%), followed by patient consultations (11.0%). The primary implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination were public health education, COVID-19 testing services, medicine supply management, and vaccination, respectively. Conclusion Pharmacists have implemented diverse pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and vaccination globally. Further studies should be conducted to determine the correlation between the characteristics of healthcare accessibility in a country and the implemented pharmaceutical care services for COVID-19.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the changes in body weight and bone mineral density in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with AS (25 males and 6 females) who fulfilled the Modified New York Criteria for AS were included in this retrospective study. All patients had active disease that eventually required anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Each patient received anti-TNF-alpha treatment (etanercept 25 mg twice weekly or adalimumab 40 mg twice monthly) for more than 2 years. Body weight, disease activity as Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD), and femoral bone mineral density (FBMD) were measured at baseline and at 1 and 2 years after initiating anti-TNF-alpha treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in mean body weight at 1 year (1.1 +/- 3.8 kg) and at 2 years (1.7 +/- 4.8 kg) compared with baseline. The gains in mean BMD of the lumbar spine were significant at 1 year (0.4 +/- 0.4) and 2 years (0.5 +/- 0.7) compared with baseline. Mean BMD of the femur was also increased at 1 year (0.08 +/- 0.7) and 2 years (0.1 +/- 0.8) compared with baseline, but these differences were not statistically significant. There were significant decreases in BASDAI at 1 year (-3.3 +/- 2.8) and at 2 years (-3.6 +/- 2.8) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant increases in body weight, lumbar BMD, and BASDAI at 1 year and 2 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after receiving anti-TNF-alpha treatment.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Baths ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Weight* ; Bone Density* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cachexia ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Adalimumab

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the changes in body weight and bone mineral density in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) receiving anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with AS (25 males and 6 females) who fulfilled the Modified New York Criteria for AS were included in this retrospective study. All patients had active disease that eventually required anti-TNF-alpha treatment. Each patient received anti-TNF-alpha treatment (etanercept 25 mg twice weekly or adalimumab 40 mg twice monthly) for more than 2 years. Body weight, disease activity as Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lumbar bone mineral density (LBMD), and femoral bone mineral density (FBMD) were measured at baseline and at 1 and 2 years after initiating anti-TNF-alpha treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in mean body weight at 1 year (1.1 +/- 3.8 kg) and at 2 years (1.7 +/- 4.8 kg) compared with baseline. The gains in mean BMD of the lumbar spine were significant at 1 year (0.4 +/- 0.4) and 2 years (0.5 +/- 0.7) compared with baseline. Mean BMD of the femur was also increased at 1 year (0.08 +/- 0.7) and 2 years (0.1 +/- 0.8) compared with baseline, but these differences were not statistically significant. There were significant decreases in BASDAI at 1 year (-3.3 +/- 2.8) and at 2 years (-3.6 +/- 2.8) compared with baseline. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed significant increases in body weight, lumbar BMD, and BASDAI at 1 year and 2 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis after receiving anti-TNF-alpha treatment.
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Baths ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Weight* ; Bone Density* ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cachexia ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Necrosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Spondylitis ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Adalimumab

Hereditary pancreatitis is a rare, autosomal dominant, inherited disease characterized by recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis with the development of chronic pancreatitis and an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. R122H or N29I mutation in cationic trypsinogen (protease serine 1, PRSS1) gene causes hereditary pancreatitis. R122H mutation is the most common mutation that causes pancreatitis by preventing deactivation of trypsin within the pancreas and prolonging its action. Three members of the family, the patient, her elder son, and her niece experienced recurrent attacks of pancreatitis. We analyzed five exons of the PRSS1 gene in DNA samples of five family members including her husband and younger son who were asymptomatic. We found out that four members of the family, the patient, her two sons, and her niece, had R122H mutation in the exon 3 of PRSS1 gene. Finally, we diagnosed hereditary pancreatitis in two households in the same family.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Female ; Humans ; *Mutation ; Pancreatitis, Chronic/*diagnosis/*genetics ; Pedigree ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trypsinogen/*genetics

New insight in the field of chronic pancreatitis was provided by the discovery of protease serine 1 (PRSS1) mutation, inherited by autosomal dominant trait in hereditary pancreatitis. Serine protease inhibior, Kazal type 1 (SPINK1) is a potent protease inhibitor which prevents premature intrapancreatic activation of trypsin and pancreatic autodigestion. Strong associations of SPINK1 mutation and different forms of pancreatitis were suggested. However, it is unlikely that SPINK1 mutation alone can cause chronic pancreatitis. This mutation acts as a disease-modifier or plays a role within polygenic or multifactorial models. A 23 year-old young woman with chronic pancreatitis was recently discovered to have SPINK1 N34S heterozygous mutation cosegregated with two intronic mutations, IVS1-37T>C and IVS3-69insTTTT, during the evaluation for potential cause of chronic idiopathic pancreatitis. The same mutation was identified in her mother. This is the first report in Korea suggesting that SPINK1 mutation would be a possible cause of chronic pancreatitis in a patient with familial background.
Adult ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Carrier Proteins/*genetics ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Family ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; *Mutation ; Pancreatitis, Chronic/*diagnosis/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed