title: Is the expression of Transforming Growth Factor-Beta1 after fracture of long bones solely influenced by the healing process?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Circulating TGF-β1 levels were found to be a predictor of delayed bone healing and non-union. We therefore aimed to investigate some factors that can influence the expression of TGF-β1. The correlation between the expression of TGF-β1 and the different socio-demographic parameters was analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one patients with long bone fractures were included in the study and divided into different groups according to their age, gender, cigarette smoking status, diabetes mellitus and regular alcohol intake. TGF-β1 levels were analysed in patient's serum and different groups were retrospectively compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly lower TFG-β1 serum concentrations were observed in non-smokers compared to smokers at week 8 after surgery. Significantly higher concentrations were found in male patients compared to females at week 24. Younger patients had significantly higher concentrations at week 24 after surgery compared to older patients. Concentrations were significantly higher in patients without diabetes compared to those with diabetes at six weeks after surgery. Patients with chronic alcohol abuse had significantly higher concentrations compared to those patients without chronic alcohol abuse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGF-β1 serum concentrations vary depending upon smoking status, age, gender, diabetes mellitus and chronic alcohol abuse at different times and therefore do not seem to be a reliable predictive marker as a single-point-in-time measurement for fracture healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Köttstorfer
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kecht
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarahrudi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1