102 SYNCHROTRON FTIR ANALYSIS OF ARTICULAR CALCIUM-CONTAINING CRYSTALS

Synchrotron FTIR analysis of Articular Calcium Containing Crystals

Revisiting spatial distribution and biochemical composition of calcium-containing crystals in human osteoarthritic articular cartilage

INTRODUCTION Calcium-containing (CaC) crystals, including basic calcium phosphate (BCP) and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPP), are associated with destructive forms of osteoarthritis (OA). We assessed their distribution and biochemical and morphologic features in human knee OA cartilage. METHODS We prospectively included 20 patients who underwent total knee replacement (TKR) for primary O...

Role of calcium-containing crystals in osteoarthritis.

The deposition of calcium-containing crystals in articular tissues is probably an underrecognized event. Clinical observations indicate that exaggerated and uniquely distributed cartilage degeneration is associated with these deposits. Perhaps the most compelling argument favoring a role for crystals in causing osteoarthritis stems from their in vitro effects on articular tissues. In this revie...

Chemical Imaging of In Vitro Models of Calcium Crystal Formation

Problems in accurately identifying calcium-containing crystals has slowed progress towards understanding the role of these important particulates in osteoarthritis. Synchrotron FTIR analysis has been useful in studying mineral formation in bone. We set out to determine if it could be used in synovial fluid and tissue culture models to identify and characterize calciumcontaining crystals. Discar...

Synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy of single natural silk fibers.

Synchrotron FTIR (S-FTIR) microspectroscopy was used to monitor the silk protein conformation in a range of single natural silk fibers (domestic and wild silkworm and spider dragline silk). With the selection of suitable aperture size, we obtained high-resolution S-FTIR spectra capable of semiquantitative analysis of protein secondary structures. For the first time, we have determined from S-FT...