Effects of helium-neon laser on levels of stress protein and arthritic histopathology in experimental osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of low-power laser therapy on levels of stress proteins (SPs) in experimental arthritis and their relation to the bioeffects on arthritic cartilage repair. DESIGN: A total of 42 rats with similar degrees of induced arthritis evaluated by means of bone scan were divided randomly into two groups. In the treated group, 21 rats received helium-neon laser treatment; in the control group, 21 rats received sham laser treatment. The changes in chondrocytes of SPs were measured by electrophoresis of proteins extracted from chondrocytes of arthritic cartilage at various time periods. The histopathologic changes and the presence of SP of arthritic cartilage were identified by hematoxylin and eosin stain and by immunostains of SP72 antibody individually from frozen sections of arthritic cartilage. RESULTS: SP density increased markedly in rats after laser treatment and was closely related to the repair of arthritic cartilage. Furthermore, the pathohistology of arthritic cartilage improved significantly with the decline of SP levels in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Helium-neon (632 nm) low-power laser can enhance SP production in arthritic chondrocytes. The extragenic production of SP is well correlated with the therapeutic effect of low-power laser in preserving chondrocytes and the repair of arthritic cartilage in rats.     

The level of R proteins in reactive arthritis

A total of 46 patients with reactive arthritides and 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined, as compared with 20 normal persons, for the blood serum content of the products of catabolic breakdown of cell receptors--R proteins (according to inhibition of the hemagglutination reaction between human red blood cells and anti-R-serum) and for conventional parameters of phagocyte function of leukocytes. The content of R proteins in patients with reactive arthritis and RA was found to be increased, and the phagocytic activity was discovered to be lowered. The changes in the parameters indicated depended on the disease entity and the disease course. The possible pathophysiological importance of changes in the level of R proteins in arthritides is discussed.     

实验性应激对糖尿病模型鼠情绪唤醒水平的影响

目的 探讨实验性应激、笼架水平对中国地鼠情绪唤醒水平的影响程度及相互关系。方法 根据旋转震动加限制应激有无、上下层笼架水平分为 4组观察中国地鼠情绪唤醒水平的变化。 结果 应激能使中国地鼠情绪唤醒水平降低,而无应激组却保持高水平的情绪唤醒, 4组之间存在显著性差异 (P0.05)。结论 实验性应激能显著影响中国地鼠情绪唤醒水平。     

Ultrasound thermotherapy effect on the recovery of nerve conduction in experimental compression neuropathy

Bilateral tibial nerves of 18 albino rats were mechanically compressed between knee and ankle. Beginning on the fifth day after compression, ultrasound thermotherapy of 0.5 or 1.0watt/cm2 was applied over the area of nerve compression in one limb for one minute three times per week. The other side (control) was not treated. Motor distal latency (DL), motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the segment with nerve compression, and amplitude of the evoked compound muscle action potential (ACMAP) were measured before and immediately after nerve compression and two or three times per week after compression. The recovery rates of NCV and ACMAP of the tibial nerve treated with ultrasound of 0.5watt/cm2 were significantly faster than those of the control nerve. There was no significant change in the recovery rate of DL. However, if ultrasound of 1.0watt/cm2 was applied, the recovery rate of ACMAP of the treated nerve was slower than that of the control nerve. There were no significant changes in the recovery rates of DL and NCV. Low doses of ultrasound thermotherapy may facilitate recovery of compression neuropathy, but higher doses may induce an adverse effect.     

Antibodies against citrullinated proteins enhance tissue injury in experimental autoimmune arthritis

Antibodies against citrullinated proteins are specific and predictive markers for rheumatoid arthritis although the pathologic relevance of these antibodies remains unclear. To investigate the significance of these autoantibodies, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice was used to establish an animal model of antibody reactivity to citrullinated proteins. DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII) at days 0 and 21, and serum was collected every 7 days for analysis. Antibodies against both CII and cyclic citrullinated peptide, one such citrullinated antigen, appeared early after immunization, before joint swelling was observed. Further, these antibodies demonstrated specific binding to citrullinated filaggrin in rat esophagus by indirect immunofluorescence and citrullinated fibrinogen by Western blot. To evaluate the role of immune responses to citrullinated proteins in CIA, mice were tolerized with a citrulline-containing peptide, followed by antigen challenge with CII. Tolerized mice demonstrated significantly reduced disease severity and incidence compared with controls. We also identified novel murine monoclonal antibodies specific to citrullinated fibrinogen that enhanced arthritis when coadministered with a submaximal dose of anti-CII antibodies and bound targets within the inflamed synovium of mice with CIA. These results demonstrate that antibodies against citrullinated proteins are centrally involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis.     

The effect of local deep microwave hyperthermia on experimental zymosan-induced arthritis in rabbits

The effect of local deep microwave hyperthermia (LDMWH) on normal and Zymosan-induced arthritis has been evaluated in 12 rabbits (24 joints). LDMWH, four treatments to each joint (twice weekly for a period of 2 wk), was generated by an antenna operating at 915 MHz for 60 min, reaching an intraarticular temperature of 42.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C. A surface cooling system was used with the microwave apparatus. Two weeks after the last treatment, all animals were sacrificed. The application of LDMWH on normal joints induced a limited proliferation of the synovial lining cells with a minimal perivascular infiltration of mononuclear and neutrophil cells. However, no histologic damage to the skin, muscles, bone, cartilage or bone marrow adjacent to the heated joints could be noted. Induction of Zymosan arthritis (2 wk before LDMWH) was characterized by pannus formation and granulomatous reaction accompanied by fibrinoid deposits and disseminated necrotic foci in the synovial intima. The LDMWH treatment on the examined arthritic joints brought about a reduction in the degree of granulomatous reaction concomitant with the appearance of some fibrocytes and fine collagen fibrils. These findings suggest that LDMWH can be safely applied, even repeatedly, without morphologic evidence of damage to any normal mesenchymal tissue. Moreover, it reduces the inflammatory process in experimentally induced synovitis.     

超声在鉴别类风湿性和痛风性跖趾关节炎骨质侵蚀中的应用

目的探讨超声在类风湿性关节炎与痛风性关节炎骨质侵蚀的诊断与鉴别诊断价值。方法回顾性分析本院43例类风湿性关节炎患者和52例痛风性关节炎患者的足部跖趾关节骨质侵蚀声像图特征,观察骨质侵蚀发生的部位、形态、边界、内部血流分布等直接征象及滑膜或关节腔积液内点状高回声、痛风石、双轨征等特异性间接征象。结果骨侵蚀在类风湿性关节炎中第五跖趾关节均受累(n=43例,100%),边界模糊(n=40例,93.0%),外形以圆形为主(n=39例,90.7%),滑膜增生(n=38例,88.4%);而在痛风性关节炎中第一跖趾关节均受累(n=52例,100%),边界清晰(n=39例,75%),外形呈椭圆形或圆形(61.5%vs 38.5%),滑膜增生(n=10例,19.2%),两组之间差异均有统计学意义(P0.001);且在痛风组中出现了特异性间接征象(P0.001),滑膜或关节腔积液内点状高回声(n=23例,44.2%),痛风石(n=33例,63.5%),双轨征(n=21例,40.4%),而在类风湿性关节炎中均无上述间接征象出现。结论超声可以依据骨侵蚀的特征鉴别类风湿性与痛风性跖趾关节炎。     

Effects of antifungal therapy on inflammation, sterilization, and histology in experimental Candida albicans meningitis.

To assess the effects of antifungal therapy on the course of Candida albicans central nervous system infection and inflammation, we inoculated intracisternally 10(5) CFU of C. albicans into rabbits. Fluconazole (10 mg/kg of body weight) or amphotericin B (1 mg/kg) was infused intravenously daily for 14 days. Treatment was initiated 24 h or 5 days after infection. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was repeatedly obtained to culture the organisms, assess the level of inflammation, and measure drug concentrations. Brain tissue was obtained at the end of therapy for culture, drug concentration determinations, and histopathology. The median number of days of treatment required to sterilize CSF cultures was 4 days for fluconazole therapy and 1 day for amphotericin B therapy (P = 0.037). There was a significant reduction in tumor necrosis factor alpha and leukocyte concentrations in the CSF of animals treated early versus those in untreated control animals (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively; analysis of variance). Compared with treated animals, a higher proportion of cultured CSF samples from untreated animals were positive for Candida (P < 0.001). A cultured brain sample from 1 of the 12 animals treated early with amphotericin B was positive for C. albicans (P < 0.01 versus controls); cultures of brain samples from 3 of 12 animals treated early with fluconazole were positive, whereas cultures of brain samples from 10 of 12 controls were positive (P < 0.05). The mean density of C. albicans was lower in the single culture-positive amphotericin B recipient (1 x 10(1) CFU/g of brain tissue) than in those treated with fluconazole (1 x 10(3) CFU/g) and in controls (8 x 10(4) CFU/g). In animals treated late, the density of C. albicans in the brain in relation to the number of days of therapy was significantly lower in amphotericin B recipients than in those treated with fluconazole (P < 0.01) and untreated controls (P < 0.01; analysis of covariance). By histopathology, a larger proportion of untreated animals compared with those treated early demonstrated features of severe infection such as perivasculitis, ventriculitis, and evidence of fungal organisms. Compared with amphotericin B-treated rabbits, those given fluconazole had a trend toward more severe pathologic lesions. Reduced susceptibility to both fluconazole and amphotericin B was observed in the C. albicans organisms isolated from the brain of one fluconazole-treated animal. These data suggest that amphotericin B is the preferred treatment for C. albicans infections of the central nervous system.     

复方丹参注射液对实验性大鼠类风湿关节炎的病理学影响

Rheumatoidarthritis（RA）isakindofautoimmunitydiseases，intheearlyphase，itmainlyaffectssynoviumandthengraduallyextendtojoints．Large－dosedcompoundsagerootinjectioniseffectiveintreatingRAinclinic，therapeuticeffectissatisfying．Inordertostudytheinvolvedmechanism，weestablishedCIAmodelsinducedbycol－lagenIItoinvestigatemechanismspathologically．１Materialsandmethod１．１ExperimentalanimalsNormalWistarratsweighting（１２０±２０）gwereprovidedbyCenterofExperimentalAnimalsofFirstMili－tar…     

早期类风湿性关节炎患者动脉粥样硬化的超声评估

目的 超声评估早期类风湿性关节炎(RA)患者是否有动脉粥样硬化指征.方法 通过超声测量肱动脉内皮依赖流量介导的血管扩张(ED-FMD)和颈动脉内皮中层厚度(IMT),对85例早期RA患者和60名健康受试者进行动脉粥样硬化的超声评估.结果 两组间IMT和ED-FMD无明显差异.结论 与对照组相比,早期RA患者出现动脉粥样硬化无明显超声指征.     

Studies on rat complement. II. Complement level in experimental tumor in rats.

In the course of methylcholanthrene induced carcinogenesis in rats, CIA50, C4 and C3 increased as compared with control and correlation of tumor size with increase in CIA50, C4 and C3 was observed. In the course of dimethylaminoazobenzen carcinogenesis of rats, complement level and C3 level decreased but in splenectomized rats fed by dimethylaminoazobenzen showed elevated level of complement system. After Corynebacterium infection, CIA50 and C3 of rats increased. This phenomenon is considered to be one of the essential factors to induce high resistance against tumor inoculation.     

Absorption and excretion of tolmetin in arthritic patients.

The absorption, kinetics, biotransformation, and excretion of tolmetin and its metabolites were studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to evaluate the effects of the disease on tolmetin disposition. Five RA patients were stabilized on tolmetin sodium (300 mg, 4 times daily for 14 days) before receiving a single oral solution dose of tolmetin-14C sodium (300 mg as the acid) on day 15. Tolmetin was rapidly and completely absorbed (peak time, 20 to 60 min) and eliminated rapidly from plasma with a biphasic decay curve (t1/2beta congruent to 2.1 hr). MCPA, the oxidative metabolite, appeared more slowly (peak time, 40 to 90 min) but was eliminated rapidly in a biphasic manner (t1/2beta congruent to 1.7 hr). The terminal elimination phases for both tolmetin and MCPA demonstrated a curvature which suggested possible nonlinearity in the kinetic disposition of the drug. There were no apparent effects of the disease on the kinetics of tolmetin or MCPA. Tolmetin, MCPA, and tolmetin glucuronide were recovered quantitatively in urine (0 to 72 hr) with most of the exretion occurring in the 0- to 24-hr period. A significant increase, relative to data on normal subjects, in the renal clearance of both tolmetin and MCPA was noted. Concomitant increase in the apparent volume of distribution secondary to reported decreases in the plasma protein binding of tolmetin appeared to be the reason for increased renal clearance of tolmetin.     

Therapeutic effect of glucocorticoid on experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Crescentic glomerulonephritis shows active and progressive glomerular changes with rapid deterioration in kidney function. A large dose of glucocorticoid (pulse therapy) is clinically used for the treatment, but its efficacy has not been fully estimated. In this study we assessed the therapeutic effect of a large dose of methyl-prednisolone (MP) on a rat model of crescentic glomerulonephritis that had been induced in WKY rats by an injection of anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody. The infiltration of CD8+ cells and monocytes was manifest by day 3, proteinuria appeared on days 4 and 5, and cellular crescents were diffusely formed by day 7. The gene expression of MCP-1, a chemokine for monocytes and T lymphocytes, was enhanced within 4 hours and peaked on day 3. Daily administration of MP (30 mg/kg/d) from day 3 through day 6 reduced the gene expression of MCP-1 and the numbers of glomerular leukocytes and largely prevented both crescent formation and proteinuria. When daily MP treatment started on day 7, the numbers of glomerular CD8+ cells and monocytes, crescents, and urinary protein were significantly reduced by day 11. In addition, continuing treatment with a small dose of MP (3 mg/kg/d) begun on day 11 completely prevented the increase in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels. These results indicate that treatment with a large dose of MP histologically and clinically ameliorates crescentic glomerulonephritis in a rat model, supporting the efficacy of pulse MP therapy for the treatment of the disease in human subjects.     

The effect of staff stress on patient behavior.

A "natural experiment" examined the effects of staff turmoil caused by personal and group issues during and after the merger of two formerly separate neuropsychiatric evaluation units, on patient acting-out behaviors. Interviews with staff members identified the periods of high staff stress, and then two periods of personal resolution (3 to 4 months after the merger) and group reconstitution (8 to 12 months later). Patient acting-out behaviors (1:1 supervision, length of time on 1:1, use of the quiet room, seclusion, and restraints) tended to peak at times of staff peace. Behaviors under patient control (72-hour notices and discharges against medical advice) were also frequent during these periods, but showed additional activity in the time between personal and organizational resolution. While the relationship between staff issues and patient behavior is by no means straightforward, analysis of quantitative and qualitative data gathered here provides some support to the "reverse hypothesis" that when staff are upset, patients will not act out and vice versa. Implications for management, clinical practice, and research are presented.     

Comparative efficacy of ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone in experimental arthritis caused by Escherichia coli.

Ciprofloxacin was compared with ceftriaxone in a rabbit model of septic arthritis caused by Escherichia coli. Both agents significantly reduced mean E. coli counts in septic joint fluid (P less than 0.0005 versus untreated controls) and also within infected synovial tissue (P less than 0.01 versus controls). Ciprofloxacin regimens caused a higher frequency (P less than 0.05) of synovial tissue sterilization (53%) than did ceftriaxone (25%).     

类风湿性关节炎病人心理障碍的护理对策及效果观察

目的:探讨心理干预对类风湿性关节炎病人心理障碍的影响。方法:将60例存在焦虑、抑郁的类风湿性关节炎病人随机分为干预组和对照组,各30例。对照组采用常规护理,干预组在采用常规护理的基础上增加系统性、针对性的心理干预。评定并比较两组病人不同时间段焦虑自评量表和抑郁自评量表的评分。结果:干预组病人在干预2个月后的焦虑自评量表和抑郁自评量表评分均明显低于对照组,有显著性差异(P0.01)。结论:心理干预能明显缓解类风湿性关节炎病人的焦虑、抑郁情绪,提高临床治疗效果。