Epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) contribute to formation of coronary vessels and fibrous matrix of the mature heart. Nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATC1) is expressed in cells of the proepicardium (PE), epicardium and EPDCs in mouse and chick embryos. Conditional loss of NFATC1 expression in EPDCs in mice causes embryonic death by E18.5 with reduced coronary vessel and fib...

Cathepsins (CTS) are peptidases that have biological roles in degrading extracellular matrix, catabolism of intracellular proteins, and processing of prohormones. Expression of CTSB, CTSD, CTSH, CTSK, CTSL, CTSS, and CTSZ genes was detected in the endometria of cyclic and early pregnant ewes with distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns. In the d 18 and 20 conceptus, expression of CTSB...

In addition to increased differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblast-like phenotypes, the limited accumulation of osteoclasts in atherosclerotic plaques or their dysfunction may participate in potential mechanisms for vascular calcification. N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase containing alpha and beta subunits (GNPTAB) is a transmembrane enzyme complex that mediates...

Osteoclasts are terminally differentiated cells that attach to bone and secrete proteases to degrade the bone matrix. The primary protease responsible for the degradation of the organic component of the bone matrix is Cathepsin K, which was largely thought to be unique to osteoclasts. Given its apparent selective expression in osteoclasts, the Cathepsin K promoter has been engineered to drive t...

RATIONALE Pycnodysostosis is a rare autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia characterized by short stature, craniofacial dysmorphism, acro-osteolysis, osteosclerosis, and brittle bone with poor healing. Pycnodysostosis results from the deficient activity of cathepsin K, a lysosomal cysteine protease that is encoded by CTSK. PATIENT CONCERNS We report a Korean adult patient with pycnodysostosis...

RATIONALE Pycnodysostosis is a rare autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia caused by a mutation in the cathepsin K encoded by cathepsin K gene (CTSK). Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is also a relatively rare type of primary thyroid carcinoma. PATIENT CONCERNS A 31-year-old woman presenting a short stature and a palpable nodule in the front of her neck that had gradually increased in size d...

PURPOSE To compare the genetic and protein expression of giant cell lesions (GCLs) of the maxillofacial (MF) and axial/appendicular (AA) skeletons. We hypothesized that when grouped according to biologic behavior and not simply by location, MF and AA GCLs would exhibit common genetic characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective and retrospective study of patients with GCLs tr...

Osteoporosis is a common condition among breast cancer patients, characterized by decreased bone density due to chemotherapy and hormone therapy. However, the application of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at Guanyuan (CV4) sites has been found be beneficial in enhancing mineral density. In this study, we aimed investigate efficacy EA CV4 cancer-induced osteoporosis elucidate potential unde...

PURPOSE Despite the high success rates of endosseous dental implants, their placement is restricted according to the height and volume of bone available. The use of short or mini dental implants could be one way to overcome this limitation. Thus, this study aimed to compare standard, short, and mini dental implants with regard to associated clinical parameters and peri-implant crevicular fluid ...