OBJECTIVE Extensive remodeling of the valve ECM in calcific aortic valve sclerosis alters its mechanical properties, but little is known about the impact of matrix mechanics on the cells within the valve interstitium. In this study, the influence of matrix stiffness in modulating calcification by valve interstitial cells (VICs), and their differentiation to pathological phenotypes was assessed....

Biomineralization in the marine phytoplankton Emiliania huxleyi is a stringently controlled intracellular process. The molecular basis of coccolith production is still relatively unknown although its importance in global biogeochemical cycles and varying sensitivity to increased pCO₂ levels has been well documented. This study looks into the role of several candidate Ca²⁺, H⁺ and inorganic carb...

Background & Aims: Calcifying nanoparticles are different forms of calcium and phosphate in sediments. Recent evidence suggests that calcifying nanoparticles (CNPs) are probably selfreplicating. Several diseases are linked to nano-bacteria including kidney stones, gallbladder stone, cardiovascular plaques, oral–dental plaque, many cancers, and autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to a...

AIM To report a case of a non-neoplastic variant of calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) with the lining epithelium showing ameloblastomatous proliferation and capsule exhibiting features of a cholesterol granuloma. The importance of delineating this histologic variant from unicystic ameloblastoma and the formation of cholesterol granuloma in this variant is discussed. BACKGROUND Calcifying odon...

BACKGROUND Chondrocytes have been traditionally thought to be responsible for calcium crystal deposits within osteoarthritic knees. Increasing recent experimental evidence suggests that menisci may also play a role. However, the calcifying potential of chondrocytes and meniscal cells derived from same OA patients, and the genes associated with meniscal calcification have never been fully examin...

RATIONALE Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a calcification inhibitor, which binds and inhibits bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and -4. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine whether MGP also binds other proteins, which could interfere with its function. METHODS AND RESULTS We transfected bovine aortic endothelial cells with N-terminally FLAG-tagged MGP and used immunoprecipitation and liqui...

Anthropogenic CO2 is a major driver of current environmental change in most ecosystems1, and the related ocean acidification (OA) is threatening marine biota2. With increasing pCO2, calcification rates of several species decrease3, although cases of up-regulation are observed4. Here, we show that biological control over mineralization relates to species abundance along a natural pH gradient. As...

Fossil fuel emissions and changes in net land use lead to an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration and a subsequent decrease of ocean pH. Noticeable effects on organisms' calcification rate, shell structure and energy metabolism have been reported in the literature. To date, little is known about the molecular mechanisms altered under low pH exposure, especially in non-calcifying organisms....

A 28 year old woman of Asian origin presented with a seven year history of intermittent right heel pain. She had no history of trauma. She had suffered from intestinal tuberculosis in childhood, which was confirmed after a histological examination of the appendix. There were no other musculoskeletal sites involved. Systemic examination was unremarkable, but examination of the foot and ankle dis...

A patient with a calcifying chronic pancreatitis was found to have a neuroendocrine islet cell tumour (a previously unreported association). The tumour secreted both gastrin and ACTH leading to clinical manifestations of both the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and Cushing's syndrome.