A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF CONTINUOUS LUMBAR TRACTION IN THE TREATMENT OF BACK PAIN AND SCIATICA

A controlled trial of continuous lumbar traction in the treatmentof back pain and sciatica showed similar improvements in boththe treated group (weighted traction) and the control group(simulated traction). The findings of this study question thejustification of admitting patients with back pain into hospitalsfor purposes of traction alone. KEY WORDS: Back pain, Treatment     

Stimulated eccrine gland function in primary Sjögren''s syndrome

Sweat secretion rate, stimulated by iontophoresis of pilocarpine, was measured in 22 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and 22 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects. There was no significant difference in measured sweat rates (P=0·45). We conclude that the complaint of dryness of the skin in patients with Sjögren's syndrome is not due to decreased eccrine gland secretion.     

Generation of self‐renewing immature dendritic cells from mouse spleen that can take up mycobacteria and present antigens to T cells

Pal R, Marwaha S, Pepponi I, Mann JFS, Paul MJ, Reljic R. Generation of self‐renewing immature dendritic cells from mouse spleen that can take up mycobacteria and present antigens to T cells. APMIS 2010; 118: 729–38. Dendritic cells (DC) play a key role in driving the adaptive immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative pathogen of tuberculosis (TB). However, studying these important yet very sparse immune cells in the context of MTB pathogenesis is severely restricted by the lack of suitable cell lines and the complexity of culturing of DC progenitors, usually obtained from the bone marrow. However, significant advances have been made towards generating long‐term DC cultures from various lymphoid tissues. Here, we report the evidence for generating a long‐term, self‐renewing DC culture from the Balb/c mouse spleen. We demonstrate that these cells, termed IDC‐3, have a myeloid DC origin, i.e. they are CD11c⁺CD11b⁺⁺CD8‐α^?F4/80^+/? and that they also display a phenotype MHC‐II⁺CD16/32⁺⁺CD80^+/?CD86⁺, indicating that they are immature DC. Following incubation with Mycobacterium bovis BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin), the IDC‐3 efficiently took up bacteria and acquired the morphology of mature DC. Importantly though, when IDC‐3 were pre‐stimulated with a mycobacterial antigen in vitro, they were able to induce proliferation of T lymphocytes from mice immunized with the same antigen. The T‐cell stimulatory potential of IDC‐3 was further enhanced when the cells were co‐stimulated with an anti‐CD40 mAb. We therefore suggest that the IDC‐3 culture system could be a useful tool for studying the interaction of DC with mycobacteria.     

Inhibition of homotypic adhesion of T-cells: secondary structure of an ICAM-1-derived cyclic peptide

The objective of this study was to elucidate the solution conformation of cyclo-(1, 12) Pen1-Pro2-Ser3-Lys4-Val5-Ile6-Leu7-Pro8-Arg9-Gly10-Gly11-Cys12 (1) derived from the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Cyclic peptide 1 inhibits homotypic adhesion of T-cells (Molt-3) mediated by ICAM-1 and the leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) on the surface of T-cells. Cyclic peptide 1 is more potent than is the linear peptide Pen1-Pro2-Ser3-Lys4-Val5-Ile6-Leu7-Pro8-Arg9-Gly10-Gly11-Cys12 (2) in inhibiting homotypic adhesion. The difference in biological activity of peptides 1 and 2 may be due to the more stable conformation of cyclic peptide 1 compared to linear peptide 2 or because cyclization prevents the peptide from adopting non-productive conformation. Therefore, conformational studies of cyclic peptide 1 will give a better understanding of its biological active conformation. The conformational studies of cyclic peptide 1 were done by NMR, CD and molecular dynamics simulations. NMR studies indicated that the major conformation of cyclic peptide 1 contained trans-configuration at both X-Pro peptide bonds. Type I β-turns at Lys4-Val5-Ile6-Leu7 and Leu7-Pro8-Arg9-Gly10 were found in cyclic peptide 1. The C- and N-terminal regions of this peptide were stabilized by antiparallel β-sheet-like structure with the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds. The overall structure of this peptide exposed the hydrophobic side chains on one face of the molecule and the hydrophilic side chains on the other.     

Interaction between chlorhexidine digluconate and sodium monofluorophosphate in vitro

Abstract — The aim of the present study was to investigate the compatibility of chlorhexidine digluconate and sodium monofluorophosphate since these agents are potential ingredients in future products in preventive dentistry. Varying combinations of chlorhexidine digluconate and sodium monofluorophosphate in water, covering the possible ranges of clinically relevant concentrations of both compounds, were made, incubated for 24 h and observed for precipitation of insoluble salts. The mixtures were analyzed for presence of free chlorhexidine and monofluorophosphate after incubation. The results showed that chlorhexidine digluconate and sodium monofluorophosphate are not compatible in clinically relevant concentrations. A chlorhexidine- monofluorophosphate salt of low solubility in water is presumably formed.     

The orientation of the articular facets of the zygapophyseal joints at the cervical and upper thoracic region

Knowledge of the orientation of facet joints in the cervical and upper thoracic region is important for understanding the biomechanical properties and clinical conditions relevant to the neck. The study was undertaken on dry macerated bones from 30 adult male human vertebral columns. The orientation of the superior articular facets in relation to their inclination with the sagittal and transverse planes was examined between C3 and T3 vertebrae in each column. The linear dimensions of the superior articular facets and the width/height ratio were also calculated. The results show that all vertebrae at C3 level and 73% at C4 level displayed posteromedially facing superior articular facets. Similarly at T1 level (C7/T1 joint) and below, all columns showed posterolaterally facing superior articular facets. The level of change in orientation, from posteromedial to posterolateral facing superior facets, was not constant and occurred anywhere between C4 (C3/C4 joint) and T1 (C7/T1 joint). The change in orientation followed 2 different patterns, i.e. sudden or gradual. The C6 vertebra (C5/C6 joint) was the most frequent site to show the transition. The shape of the superior articular facets was circular to oval at C3, C4 and C5 levels and gradually changed to a transversely elongated surface at C7 and T1. These findings correlate well with various cervical movements and associated clinical conditions.     

Catheterization Technique for Laser Photoahlation of Atrioventricular Conduction from the Aortic Root in Dogs

A simple catheterization technique for producing suppression or block of atrioventricular (AV) conduction in dogs by neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser photocoagulationfrom the aortic root is described. In 14 canines, electrode catheters were percutaneously advanced to the high right atrium, to the His bundle area at the tricuspid valve (right His (RHJ), and the noncoronary cusp of the aortic valve (left His [LH]). A 400μ optical fiber was fed into the lumen of the LH catheter. Continuous wave Nd:YAG lasing at λ= 1,064 nm at 15–20 watts was performed at the site of the largest recorded LH deflection, opposite ta the RH catheter, until complete AV block (CAVB, group I, eight dogs) or persistent A-H prolongation (AHPr, group 11, four dogs) occurred; in two animaJs, laser photoablation was unsuccessful. CAVB and AHPr were achieved in < 140 seconds of lasing. Mean lasing time was 51 ± 41 seconds, total energy delivered, 776 ± 601 J. There were no complications. Dogs were followed for up to 120 days. In group I, 6/6 dogs followed /or at least I week continued to have CAVB (three AV nodal, five infra-His). In group II, 1/4 dog progressed to infra-His CAVB^; 3/4 had depressed AV nodal function. AV block was not reversed by isoproterenol. Aortic root angiograms revealed intact valve function in all. Histology showed various degrees of damage and repair of AV functional tissue. There were no valvular perforations. Transcatheter Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation of the AV junction from the aortic root is a fast, simple, and safe method for creating AV conduction block in dogs.