Caveats of bisphosphonate abuse

Measuring dengue enhancing antibodies: caveats.

To the Editor-Laoprasopwattana et al. [1] concluded that "levels of preillness plasma EA [enhancing activity] or DV [dengue virus] infection in K562 cells did not correlate with the clinical severity or viral burden of secondary DV infection" (p. 510). Sadly, serious flaws in their study's design and methodology preclude rigorous interpretation of these data. Nonetheless, the authors have ident...

RNA interference: Perspectives and caveats

RNA interference (RNAi) can still be regarded as a recently discovered phenomenon, but it has already made its way as a widely used method in molecular biology. In 1998, Andrew Fire and Craig Mello were the first to describe the mechanism of RNAi in the nematode C. elegans (Fire et al, 1998). Long double-stranded RNA molecules were found to mediate posttranscriptional silencing of genes with a ...

Understanding stress: characteristics and caveats.

Exposure to stressful situations is among the most common human experiences. These types of situations can range from unexpected calamities to routine daily annoyances. In response to stressors, a series of behavioral, neurochemical, and immunological changes occur that ought to serve in an adaptive capacity. However, if those systems become overly taxed, the organism may become vulnerable to p...

Archival Exhibits: Considerations and Caveats

Bisphosphonate mechanism of action.

The nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), alendronate and risedronate, are the only pharmacologic agents shown to prevent spine and nonvertebral fractures associated with postmenopausal and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. At the tissue level, this is achieved through osteoclast inhibition, which leads to reduced bone turnover, increased bone mass, and improved mineralization. The mo...