0000000000261761
AUTHOR
S. Mundlos
Distribution of Cartilage Proteoglycan (Aggrecan) Core Protein and Link Protein Gene Expression during Human Skeletal Development
The distribution of cartilage proteoglycan core protein (aggrecan) and cartilage proteoglycan link protein was investigated by in situ hybridization during different stages of human skeletal development. Aggrecan and link protein expression were confined to chondrocytes of the developing skeleton and other cartilaginous structures. Distribution and intensity of the signal was identical with aggrecan as compared to link protein probes. Parallel to the calcification of cartilaginous matrix, chondrocytes of this area lost the expression of aggrecan and link protein specific mRNA and stayed negative throughout the following stages of skeletal development. Highest expression was found in the low…
Monitoring of Enzyme Substitution Using the Cholesteryl Octanoate Breath Test
The efficiency of enzyme replacement therapy in pancreatic insufficiency is usually judged on the grounds of clinical improvement and the effect on steatorrhea: treatment is thought to be successful if steatorrhea is abolished or, at least, reduced. In the majority of patients, the amount of enzyme necessary to alleviate steatorrhea can be reduced if lipase is protected against acidic inactivation either by blocking H2 secretion of the stomach or by protecting enzymes by pH-sensitive enteric coating. However, steatorrhea is frequently not abolished and a differential treatment may be necessary in each patient.