Thyroid hormones have marked cardiovascular effects in vivo. However, their direct effects on vascular smooth muscle cells have been unclear. Because thyroid hormones play critical roles in bone remodeling, we hypothesized that they are also associated with vascular smooth muscle calcification, one of the pathological features of vascular sclerosis. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effe...

Nephrocalcinosis involves the deposition of microscopic crystals in the tubular lumen or interstitium. While the clinical, biochemical, and genetic aspects of the diseases causing nephrocalcinosis have been elucidated, little is known about the cellular events in this calcification process. We previously reported a phenomenon involving the spontaneous formation of Ca2PO4 nodules in primary papi...

AIMS Renal failure is associated with aortic valve calcification (AVC). Our aim was to develop an animal model for exploring the pathophysiology and reversibility of AVC, utilizing rats with diet-induced kidney disease. METHODS AND RESULTS Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 23) were fed a phosphate-enriched, uraemia-inducing diet for 7 weeks followed by a normal diet for 2 weeks ('diet group'). These r...

OBJECTIVE To determine the neuroradiological abnormalities associated with subjects carrying the mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes (MELAS) tRNA(Leu)(UUR) A3243G point mutation METHODS Mitochondrial genetic analysis was performed on 24 subjects from six kindreds with the MELAS tRNA(Leu)(UUR) A3243G point mutation. Cerebral CT and MRI were performe...

The patient presented by Dr Patricia Campbell1 from the Advanced Heart Disease Section of Brigham and Women’s Hospital exemplifies challenges that surround the possible diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis. Constrictive pericarditis is a pericardial compressive syndrome due to fibrosis, scarring, and occasionally calcification of the pericardium. The primary pathophysiological consequence is ...

We present a unique case of an extensively ossified carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) in a 76-year-old man with a five-year history of a slowly growing parotid mass. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass was nondiagnostic. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the lesion revealed a well-circumscribed mass with peripheral calcification. Initial pathological analysis suggested a benign parotid ma...

Calcified amorphous tumor of the heart consists of a cardiac mass of rare nonneoplastic nature that mimics malignancy and causes symptoms due to obstruction or embolization of calcific fragments. We present a case of tumor 17-year-old young, male, in tricuspid valve, with classic pathological findings. It was preferred to approach for classic median esternotomy, installation of the circuit of e...

During the process of matrix vesicle (MV)-mediated initiation of mineralisation, chondrocytes and osteoblasts mineralise the extracellular matrix by promoting the seeding of basic calcium phosphate crystals of hydroxyapatite (HA) along the collagen fibrils. This orchestrated process is carefully regulated by the balanced action of propagators and inhibitors of calcification. The primary antagon...

We present two brothers with Wolman's disease under its child form. Adrenal calcification, a diagnostic suspicion sign, was present in the second brother only. Vacuolated cells in bone marrow and intestine villi shown in pathological study, and cholesterol crystals in Kupffer cells were determinative. Acid esterase (0.85 nmol/mg/m) in fibroblast culture in the second brother was pathognomonic (...

Intraosseous lipoma, a rare primary benign tumor of the skeleton, is most commonly found in the calcaneus. It may contain homogenous fat, but it may also contain necrosis, calcification, or ossification. It usually does not show contrast enhancement, but there is an interface enhancement between the outer fat plan and the inner fluid part. Herein, we present an unusual 22-year-old male case of ...