Substance P containing, thin, sensory nerve fibres have been demonstrated in bone and bone marrow. However the role of substance P in bone tissue is not fully understood. We investigated the effects of substance P on the growth and development of rat bone marrow-derived osteogenic cells in vitro. To examine this, the marrow-derived osteogenic cells were treated from 3rd to 6th day of subculture with substance P at concentrations 10(-10), 10(-9) and 10(-8)M. [(3)H]-thymidine, L-2,3-[(3)H]-proline incorporation, protein accumulation, alkaline phosphatase activity, and calcium deposition were measured in cultures. Substance P slightly stimulated [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation at 10(-10) M. Protein accumulation and L-2,3-[(3)H]-proline incorporation were enhanced in a dose dependent manner. Simultaneous application of spantide, a substance P receptor antagonist, could not block substance P-induced L-2,3-[(3)H]-proline incorporation probably because of statistically significant effect of spantide itself. Calcium deposits were significantly lower (about 30%) in cultures treated with SP. This effect was probably due in part by the fall in alkaline phosphatase activity which in substance P treated cultures was decreased about 17%. Our results indicate that substance P could be one of the factors modulating bone metabolism.

Dance therapy is a physical activity that can lead to balance improvement in older adults. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of dance therapy on balance and risk of falls in older women. Twenty-four older women (mean age 66.4 years old) attended dance sessions for three months. Pretest/posttests were completed using the Postural Stability Test, the Limits of Stability Test, and the Fall Risk Test M-CTSIB. Results showed the Limits of Stability Test was significantly higher (17.5%) after dance classes. Regular use of dance therapy shows promise in improving balance by increasing the limits of stability.

No abstract

The incidence of megakaryocytic emperipolesis was studied in the bone marrow of normal and X-irradiated mice. Two groups of mice received total body irradiation with a single dose of 5 Gy and one of the two groups had been treated with a radioprotective drug, ethiofos (WR-2721), before irradiation. Mice from a third group remained unexposed to irradiation and served as controls. The Wright-Giemsa stained bone marrow smears were analyzed every 5 days during a 30-day period, starting 1 day after irradiation. The number of megakaryocytes exhibiting the phenomenon was determined and expressed as an average value for every experimental group. The frequency of megakaryocytic emperipolesis was less than 15% of megakaryocytes from control smears but increased to 34% in mice that had only been irradiated and to 43% when mice were treated with WR-2721 before irradiation. In the last case, i.e., irradiation and treatment with a radioprotective drug, a positive correlation between the macrocytic megakaryocytes and elevated emperipolesis was noted. Under light microscopy, there were no signs of phagocytosis; engulfed cells remained unaltered with their normal structure intact. Granulocytic, erythroid, and lymphoid cells appeared to be the most frequent marrow cells engulfed by mature megakaryocytes. The number of incorporated cells in one megakaryocyte ranged from 1 to 3, though occasionally more than 6 were seen in macrocytic megakaryocytes. Based on our findings and on a review of the associated literature, we believe emperipolesis is an interesting cellular phenomenon related to the fast passage of marrow cells across the marrow-blood barrier, especially through the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes in response to an increased demand for cell delivery. The high demand for cell delivery which occurs after irradiation may cause certain mature bone marrow cells to take a transmegakaryocyte path to enter the circulation of the blood. Irradiation seems to have an immediate effect (observed after 24 h) on emperipolesis, suggesting that a humoral factor is involved in the pathogenesis.

The aim of this study was to analyze the changes in blood rheology resulting from regular winter swimming. The study was carried out on 12 male winter swimmers. Venous blood for morphological, biochemical and rheological analysis was sampled twice from each winter swimmer -at the beginning of the season and after its completion. There were no significant changes detected in the median values of most blood morphological parameters. The only exception pertained to MCHC which was significantly lower after the season. Winter swimming entailed significant decrease in median elongation index values at shear stress levels of 0.30 Pa and 0.58 Pa, and significant increase in median values of this parameter at shear stress levels ≥1.13 Pa. No significant changes were observed in winter swimmers' median values of aggregation indices and plasma viscosity. The median level of glucose was lower post winter swimming in comparison to the pre-seasonal values. In contrast, one season of winter swimming did not influence swimmers' median value of fibrinogen concentration. In summary, this study revealed positive effects of winter swimming on the rheological properties of blood, manifested by an increase in erythrocyte deformability without accompanying changes in erythrocyte aggregation.