Connexin43 (Cx43) is involved in bone development, but its role in adult bone homeostasis remains unknown. To overcome the postnatal lethality of Cx43 null mutation, we generated mice with selective osteoblast ablation of Cx43, obtained using a Cx43fl allele and a 2.3-kb fragment of the α1(I) collagen promoter to drive Cre in osteoblasts (ColCre). Conditionally osteoblast-deleted ColCre;Cx43–/fl mice show no malformations at birth, but develop low peak bone mass and remain osteopenic with age, exhibiting reduced bone formation and defective osteoblast function. By both radiodensitometry and histology, bone mineral content increased rapidly and progressively in adult Cx43+/fl mice after subcutaneous injection of parathyroid hormone (PTH), an effect significantly attenuated in ColCre;Cx43–/fl mice, with Cx43–/fl exhibiting an intermediate response. Attenuation of PTH anabolic action was associated with failure to increase mineral apposition rate in response to PTH in ColCre;Cx43–/fl, despite an increased osteoblast number, suggesting a functional defect in Cx43-deficient bone-forming cells. In conclusion, lack of Cx43 in osteoblasts leads to suboptimal acquisition of peak bone mass, and hinders the bone anabolic effect of PTH. Cx43 represents a potential target for modulation of bone anabolism.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is an uncommon mesenchymal solid tumor commonly documented in children and young adults. Here, we report a case of IMT in colon confirmed pathologically after laparoscopic anterior resection. A 35-year-old man presented with anal bleeding after defecation for 2 weeks. Colonoscopy demonstrated a mass with shallow ulceration in the central area and irregular margin accompanied by intact mucosa in the descending colon. Computer tomography showed a well-demarcated and homogenous solitary mass in the descending colon. We performed laparoscopic anterior resection. This case was diagnosed as IMT after microscopic examination. The tumor was composed of a proliferation of spindle-shaped cells arranged in the hyaline material with chronic inflammatory cells, composed mainly of plasma cells and lymphocytes. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle actin, and vimentin, and negative for desmin, CD117 (c-kit), anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1.

Objective This study assessed factors associated with the quality of life (QoL) and investigated the influence of age in 401 Korean type 2 diabetic patients. Methods The QoL was assessed using the latest version of the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL) instrument in order to evaluate the perceived impact of diabetes on 19 life domains. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between the factors and the ADDQoL scores in the lower quartile. The interaction terms of these factors with age strata were included to evaluate the distinctive associations across age, followed by a stratified analysis. Results According to a multivariate analysis, a positive association between depressive symptoms (BDI ! 16) and lower ADDQoL scores was consistently found across all ages. In the younger group (<60 years), insulin use (odds ratio: 4.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.29-15.33, p=0.018) and the presence of a family history of diabetes (OR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.08-0.68, p=0.008) were independently associated with lower ADDQoL scores. However, in the older group (! 60 years), insulin use and a family history of diabetes were not significantly associated with lower ADDQoL scores. Conclusion The findings suggest that insulin use, depressive symptoms and a family history of diabetes can be associated with the QoL in Korean type 2 diabetic patients; however, the associations show different patterns of age dependency.

Tuberculous aneurysm of the aorta is exceedingly rare. To date, the standard therapy for mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta has been surgery involving in-situ graft placement or extra-anatomic bypass surgery followed by effective anti-tuberculous medication. Only recently has the use of a stent graft in the treatment of tuberculous aortic aneurysm been described in the literature. We report two cases in which a tuberculous aneurysm of the abdominal aorta was successfully repaired using endovascular stent grafts. One case involved is a 42-year-old woman with a large suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and a right psoas abscess, and the other, a 41-year-old man in whom an abdominal aortic aneurysm ruptured during surgical drainage of a psoas abscess.