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Abstract Purpose: To report a case of arterial calcification in a person who has had long-term treatment with warfarin. Although the anticoagulant has been shown to induce arterial calcification in [...]

Byline: Mayur. Sharma, Benjamin. Brown, Venkatesh. Madhugiri, Hugo. Cuellar-Saenz, Ashish. Sonig, Sudheer. Ambekar, Anil. Nanda Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the perioperative complications, obliteration rates, discharge [...]

Byline: Uwe. Wollina Calciphylaxis is a devastating disorder with a mortality rate of 80% due to sepsis and organ failure. Hallmarks of this rare disease are arteriolar media calcification, thrombotic [...]

The evolutionary development of tropical coral reefs is presently ascribed to the association of corals with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) and to the enhancement of calcification by light. Contrary to this idea, the calcification rate in a non-reef-building tropical coral (Tubastrea faulkneri) without symbiotic algae was the same as the light-enhanced rate in a zooxanthellate reef-building coral (Galaxea fascicularis). The mechanisms of calcification, however, differed between the two species. instead of being 'light-enhanced,' calcification in corals with algae was 'dark-repressed.' The evolutionary development of coral reefs may therefore not be related to light-enhanced calcification resulting from the association of corals with symbiotic algae., It is generally thought that the formation of coral reefs in shallow tropical seas has been possible because the association of symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) with hermatypic (reef-building) corals facilitates rapid [...]

Byline: D. Saranya, M. Jawahar, K. Bhanu Introduction Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system. However, disseminated cysticercosis is rare. [sup][1] We present a case [...]

The prevalence and extent of vascular calcification over the thoracic aorta and coronary and carotid arteries are greater in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than in healthy persons. Because [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.06.009 Byline: Olga Rejtarova (a), Petr Hejna (b), Pavel Rejtar (c), Josef BukaA (d), DaA a SliA3/4ova (a), Otakar Krs (a) Keywords: Costal cartilage; Calcification; Ossification; Sexual dimorphism; Age estimation Abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate differences between males and females based on patterns of costal cartilage ossification and also with respect to ageing. We provided diagnosis of ossifications from two files of radiograms. The first group consisted of 1044 chest and abdominal radiograms of patients (537 men and 507 women), ranging in age from 10 to 95 years obtained by using conventional X-ray technique. The second group was a set of 55 radiograms of chest plate fragments of cadavers (29 men and 26 women) aged from 15 to 98, obtained by using soft X-ray imaging in the skiagraphic-skiascopic unit. Ossifications were identified in more than 80% of the cases. They appear in puberta and their occurrence increases with age. The peripheral ossification pattern, typically the male pattern, is characterized by subperichondral deposits which contour the upper and lower margin of cartilage. The female, central lingual ossification pattern, is characterized by the pyramidal (lingual) shape of ossifications with a peak towards the sternum. The existence of another typical female central globular model of ossification was not confirmed in the file of cadavers. Central globular foci were found in both sexes (62% of women and 34% of men) from the 3rd decade. In the sample of Caucasian men and women (Czech population) we detected a frequent occurrence of costal cartilage ossification. Peripheral and central lingual patterns are highly predictive for sex determination. Globular loci of ossifications can be used for age estimation. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Anatomy, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, A imkova 870, CZ - 500 38, Czech Republic (b) Department of Forensic Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, A imkova 870, CZ - 500 38, Czech Republic (c) Department of Radiology, Charles University in Prague, Hospital in Hradec Kralove, Sokolska 581, CZ - 500 38, Czech Republic (d) Department of Statistics, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, A imkova 870, CZ - 500 38, Czech Republic Article History: Received 21 August 2008; Revised 15 April 2009; Accepted 12 June 2009

Calcification by four species of crustose coralline algae was estimated on the windward reef at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia, by combining measurements of [O.sub.2], pH, and total alkalinity with equations describing the seawater carbonate equilibrium. Calcification (C) was regressed against irradiance (I) and modeled using a general exponential function. C-I models yielded estimates of gross calcification that ranged from 9.6 mmol Ca[CO.sub.3] [m.sup.-2] [h.sup.-1] at 0 m to 2.0 mmol Ca[CO.sub.3] [m.sup.-2] [h.sup.-1] at 18 m. A significant proportion of all samples exhibited Ca[CO.sub.3] dissolution in the dark. Integration of C-I models with half sine-curve approximations of whole-day irradiance yielded estimated net deposition rates of 0.82 to 9.1 g Ca[CO.sub.3] [m.sup.-2] [d.sup.-1]. Net 24-h calcification was linearly correlated with noontime irradiance. Daily Ca[CO.sub.3] deposition as a function of reef surface relief (3.1 for the crest and 5.0 for the slope) indicated potential contributions to reef accretion of 4.1 to 28.1 g [m.sup.-2] [d.sup.-1], assuming 100% coralline cover. These estimates predict annual deposition rates of 1.5 to 10.3 kg Ca[CO.sub.3] [m.sup.-2] [yr.-1], provided that measurements made between late summer and mid-winter are representative of calcification throughout the year. Since observed accretion falls far short of the quantities predicted by these measurements, erosive agencies must remove much of the Ca[CO.sub.3] deposited annually by crustose coralline algae on windward reef margins.

Soft waters are characterized by low Ca concentrations, and the distribution and relative success of Ca-demanding invertebrates could be limited by low Ca in extreme softwater localities. A further Ca depletion caused by reversed acidification could thus seriously affect freshwater crustaceans. Experimental studies on the calcification and Ca content of Daphnia magna clearly suggested the potential of a Ca limitation. Saturated calcification was reached at Ca concentrations [is greater than] 0.13 mM. Individuals reared in media with lower Ca concentrations were unable to compensate by, increasing the period of postmolt Ca uptake and thus had a lower specific Ca content. Specific Ca content decreased from 4.2% to 1% of dry weight over the range 0.25-0.013 mM Ca. Even at the low Ca concentrations, only 10% of total Ca was reclaimed upon molting, the rest was lost with the old exuviae (~40%) or to the ambient medium (~50%). This incomplete calcification under low ambient Ca concentrations could represent a competitive drawback in Ca-poor waters.

In 1962, Heinz Lowenstam discovered that the outer layer of the teeth of a common intertidal mollusk, the chiton, is composed of magnetite (1) (see the figure, top panel). This [...]

Seven hundred chest radiographs taken in a general hospital were reviewed, 100 (50 men and 50 women) from each of seven decades (3rd to 9th). Each radiograph was examined to determine the site and extent of calcific changes. Prevalence of costal cartilage calcification increased from 6% in the 3rd decade to 45% in the 9th and was commoner in men. Aortic calcification was absent below age 50 and increased from 4% in the 6th decade to 57% in the 9th. Both these trends were statistically significant. Other sites of calcification were found only in patients aged over 70; these included pleural, pericardial, tracheal, myocardial and diphragmatic calcification.

Growth form and calcification in marine macrophytes have been suggested to act as structural defenses against grazers. Support for this hypothesis has been largely indirect, consisting of negative correlations of plant and herbivore abundance and the observation that some herbivores prefer less calcified food plants. The hypothesized defensive role of calcification and growth form has generally not been directly tested. Experiments were conducted to test this hypothesis directly for an important group of grazers, the docoglossan limpets, and a large variety of tropical algae with varying degrees of calcification and different thallus forms. This was accomplished by mimicking the mode of feeding of the herbivore using its feeding apparatus (the radula) and directly measuring the forces required to remove tissue. The results were opposite to the predictions. Neither calcification nor the thallus forms that had been predicted to be structural defenses resulted in increased amounts of force to remove tissue. For these particular herbivores, and possibly others, these morphological features are not acting as simple structural defenses. Other explanations for observed correlations of herbivore and plant abundance and the food preferences of herbivores must be considered.

Byline: F. M. Brunkhorst (1), U. Heinz (1), Z. F. Forycki (1) Author Affiliation: (1) Krankenhaus Neukolln, Dept. of Medical Intensive Care and Cardiology, Rudowerstr. 48, D-12351 Berlin, Germany Tel.: +49 30 6004 2210 Fax: +49 30 6004 2492, DE Article note: Received: 9 February 1998 Accepted: 27 May 1998

The report 'Calcification in hermatypic and ahermatypic corals' by A. T. Marshall (2 Feb., p. 637) sheds light on the poorly understood relationship between photosynthesis and calcification in reef corals, [...]