DMARD combination therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: 5‐year follow‐up results in a daily practice setting

Aim: To evaluate the overall effect of disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drug (DMARD) combination therapy in daily practice. Methods: In a retrospective study, 161 consecutive files of patients who attended regular follow‐up sessions, seen from 1998, were analysed. Their data were extracted at baseline, 6 months, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. American College of Rheumatology ACR70 criteria was chosen for the evaluation of the global result. DMARD combination was methotrexate (7.5–15 mg weekly) and chloroquine (150 mg daily), with low‐dose prednisolone (less than 10 mg daily). In cases of remission, methotrexate was gradually tapered, then prednisolone. Chloroquine was discontinued after 1 year if no recurrence occurred at low‐dose (150 mg every other day). In cases of recurrence at any stage, the treatment scheme was stepped back. Results: The data of 161 patients were analysed. One hundred and six were rheumatoid factor positive (RF+) (66%). ACR 70 for all patients at 6 months follow‐up was 72.5% (95% CI = 7.0); at 1 year, 75.8% (95% CI = 6.7); at 2 years, 72.2% (95% CI = 7.2); at 3 years, 78.9% (95% CI = 6.6); at 4 years, 78.4% (95% CI = 6.9); and at 5 years, 70.6% (95% CI = 8.5). Conclusion: The classical DMARD combination therapy, when used with adequate low‐dose prednisolone, gave an ACR70 response from 71–79%. The efficacy of the treatment did not fade over time. RF– patients did better than RF+ patients, but the difference was not statistically significant.     

白芍总苷治疗口腔扁平苔藓的疗效评价研究

目的：观察羟氯喹及羟氯喹与白芍总苷两者合并治疗口腔扁平苔藓（OLP）的疗效,并且同时比较两种定性疗效评价方法,对OLP的损害程度和治疗效果进行评价。方法：随机选取两组初诊患者,分别采用羟氯喹及羟氯喹与白芍总苷治疗三个月,使用绝对数值标准和相对变化标准分别计算。结果：白芍总苷和羟氯喹联合用药,对OLP糜烂型和充血型损害有效。单用羟氯喹治疗OLP糜烂型和充血型损害无效。对于OLP斑纹型损害,两组均有效。白芍总苷和羟氯喹联合用药治疗OLP,可以减少羟氯喹的不良反应。采用＂绝对数值标准＂的定性评价方法与采用＂相对变化标准＂的定性评价方法相比,具有记录简便、评价准确的优点。结论：白芍总苷辅助治疗口腔扁平苔藓有效;绝对数值标准高效准确。     

Compliance with malaria chemoprophylaxis and preventative measures against mosquito bites among Dutch travellers.

Summary Self-reported compliance with a malaria chemoprophylaxis regimen of proguanil (PG) plus chloroquine (CQ) was assessed in a cohort of 547 Dutch travellers who visited a single travel clinic when travelling to various areas endemic for falciparum malaria. 503 (92%) had taken PG/CQ prophylaxis, but only 326 (60%) reported regular and uninterrupted use throughout the journey and 4 weeks afterwards. Compliance differed by travel destination and was 45% in South America, 52% in West Africa, 53% in South-east Asia, 60% in the Indian Subcontinent and 78% in East Africa. Parasitologically confirmed falciparum malaria occurred in 5 travellers (0.9%), including 3 of 24 non-compliant travellers to West Africa (12.5%). Apart from destination, independent risk factors for non-compliance were young age, extensive travel experience and adventurous travel. Compliance with protection against mosquito bites was 80% for wearing long-sleeved shirts and long-legged trousers after sunset, 73% for use of repellents, 56% for sleeping under bednets and 37% for keeping the sleeping quarters free of mosquitoes. Although 440 travellers (80%) reported to have taken two or more of these measures at least once, only 88 (16%) had done so on a daily basis. Daily use of bednets was reported more frequently among subjects who were non-compliant with chemoprophylaxis. Compliance regarding malaria chemoprophylaxis should be improved, particularly in high-risk areas such as Sub-saharan Africa, with extra attention to young, adventurous travellers. More emphasis should be placed on prevention of Anopheles bites.     

Secretin dissipates red aridine orange fluoescence from pancreatic duct epithelium

This study was undertaken to elucidate whether duct cells in the pancreas contain acidic cytoplasmic compartments regulated by secretion. Microdissected pancreatic ducts from pigs were examined by acridibe orange (AO) and 2′, 7′-biscarboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein/tetraacetioxymethyl ester (BCECF/AM) epifluorescence microscopy. Estimated cytoplasmic pH using BCECF fluorescence was 7.43pL0.04 and was not changed by altering CO₂ tension in the incubation mdium. The epithelium of acridine orange incbated peripheral interlobular pancreatic ducts exhibited green and fluorescence was sen in resting pancreatic ducts and was greatly accentuated by raising CO₂ in the incubation medium with chloroqyuine or NH₄Cl or the protonophores carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) or carbonyl cyanide M-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), leaving uniform gren fluoresence. These findings suggest that pancreatic duct cells contain CO₂-dependent acidic compartments which vanishduring seceatin stimulation and which may be cytoplasmic tubulovesicles.     

伯氏疟原虫氯喹敏感株和抗性株感染小鼠肝、肾、肺超微结构的比较

目的：研究伯氏疟原虫（Plasmodium berghei)氯喹抗性（RC）株与敏感（N）株致病力和宿主对不同虫株感染反应的差异。方法：比较伯氏疟原虫RC株和N株感染ICR小鼠后期、肝、肾、肺等重要脏器超微结构的病理学改变。结果：N株感染后期、肺血窦、肾间质和毛细血管、肺泡毛细血管含有较多的感染疟原虫红细胞,肺泡壁毛细血管内皮细胞有较多的突起与疟原虫感染红细胞相接触。较多的肝细胞、肾小球旁细胞、肾小管上皮细胞,肺泡Ⅰ型和Ⅱ型细胞出现膜破溃,细胞器和胞质流失等不可逆的坏死性病变,一些肝血窦、肾小管和肺泡内可见多量的细胞碎片。RC株感染后期,肝血窦、肾间质充血,含有较多的感染疟原虫红细胞。肝细胞、肾小管上皮细胞的病变以线粒体肿胀为主的变性,可见肝脏部分变性肝细胞出现恢复状态,肾小球毛细血管内皮细胞下、基膜、系膜区可见电子致密物沉着,肺泡隔内可见较多的单个核细胞。结论：N株毒力较强,对宿主`能和肺细胞超微结构的损害为不可逆的坏死性病变,呈急性变质性炎症过程;而RC株毒力明显减弱,对宿主肝、肾和肺细胞超微结构的损害以变性为主,呈慢性增生性炎症经过。     

矿泉“851”对抗疟治疗的非特异性免疫作用

感染伯氏疟原虫(P.berghe ANKA株)小鼠,经矿泉“851”及与抗疟酮合用治疗后,腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬百分率和吞噬指数明显高于感染对照组(P<0.01)。两组药均能提高小鼠单核巨噬细胞系统(MPS)对碳微粒的廓清率,其K值与对照组相比,P<0.01,MPS活性的增强程度与其疟原虫的抑制率成正相关。     

Heroin in Malaysia and Singapore

Clandestine heroin laboratories have been a feature of the Malaysian illicit drug scene since soon after the abuse of heroin emerged in 1972. The first few clandestine heroin laboratories which synthesised heroin via the acetylation of imported morphine were uncovered in 1973 and 1977. By the mid‐1980s, this type of laboratory was replaced by heroin‐cutting laboratories whereby imported high‐grade heroin was cut to street heroin. This was to meet the rising demand for the drug owing to the rapid escalation of the number of drug users. Over the years, the most significant change in the composition of the street heroin is the decrease in its purity from 30%–50% to 3%–5%. Caffeine has remained the major adulterant and chloroquine is detected in virtually all recent seizures.     

Halofantrine in the treatment of acute malaria: A multi-centre study in 268 patients

Summary

The clinical efficacy and tolerability of halofantrine, a new antimalarial schizontocide, was studied in a multi-centre trial involving 268 patients ranging in age from 6 months to 58 years. The patients were suffering from acute uncomplicated malaria due to either P.vivax or P. falciparum. Patients were treated orally with 3 doses of halofantrine hydrochloride, 500?mg/6-hourly in adults or 8?mg/kg body weight 6-hourly in children. The overall cure rate was 96.9%. The mean fever clearance time for different species was as follows: P. vivax — 39.1 hours, P. falciparum — 43.2 hours, mixed infection — 60.0 hours, and the mean parasitaemia clearance times were 47.7, 55.1 and 72.0 hours, respectively. Recrudescence was reported in 11 (4.1%) patients, although all of them were parasite-free on Day 7 post-treatment. No haematological or biochemical abnormalities were noted. The drug was very well tolerated and no significant side-effects were reported. Halofantrine was found to be highly effective in acute malaria and offers an important alternative to existing medications.     

Mutational prevalence of chloroquine resistance transporter gene among Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh,India

Objective: The present study aims to find out the mutational prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) gene in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India. Methods: To fulfil the objective of the study, a total of 54 P. falciparum malaria positive samples were attempted for genotyping of Pfcrt gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing method. Results: The K76T mutation was observed in 77.78% cases followed by M74I (61.11%), N75E (61.11%) and C72S (16.67%). Triple mutant allele M74I+N75E+K76T was found in 61.11% P. falciparum field isolates. Double mutant allele C72S+K76T was seen among 16.67% samples. Mutation studies have shown existence of three different haplotypes of which two were associated with chloroquine resistance. The haplotype CVIET was found preponderance and circulated in all four districts. The other haplotype SVMNT was observed only in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Maximum haplotype diversity was also recorded from Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Conclusion: Our study has confirmed high prevalence of mutant Pfcrt genotypes associated with chloroquine resistance in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India.