Paradoxical effect of dexamethasone administration to rabbits with antigen-induced arthritis

Systemic dexamethasone phosphate administration to rabbits 2 h before induction of arthritis by antigen promoted a decrease in cellular influx, vascular permeability and eicosanoid concentrations in the synovial fluids. When administered 24 h before the articular challenge a significant increase in all parameters assessed was observed. A third group of animals receiving an injection of dexamethansone before the intra-articular challenge. The results suggest that a blockade of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis could be responsible for the findings in animals treated 24 h before induction of arthritis, and that endogenous glucocorticoids can be important for the down-regulation, of the articular inflammatory reaction.     

Increased life expectancy in people with untreated phenylketonuria

The records of 17 people with intellectual disability and untreated phenylketonuria (12 females and five males), who were resident in the Stoke Park Group of Hospitals, Bristol, England, 25 years ago, were reexamined for life expectancy. Six subjects had died (five females and one male). The oldest deceased female was 69 years of age. The average age at death was 55.8 years. Eleven subjects were still alive (seven females and four males). The oldest living male was 79 years of age. The average age of the survivors was 55.7 years.