GONARTHRITIS DUE TO MYCOBACTERIUM CHELONEI

Atypical mycobacterial arthritis is rare but has been diagnosedmore frequently in the last 10 years. An old man with a longhistory of degenerative arthritis of the knees developed septicarthritis of the left knee due to Mycobacterium chelonei followingan injection into the knee and an infection near the left ankle.     

HLA in two islands of French Polynesia

The HLA-A, B, and C antigens of 243 individuals from two Polynesian islands, Maiao and Hiva Oa, have been characterized. 328 haplotypes were defined by family analysis. Most frequent antigens were A2, A11, Aw24, A26 , Aw34 ; Bw38, Bw39 , Bw48 , Bw55 , Bw56 , Bw60 ; Cwl, Cw3, and Cw4. Several other antigens were present at low frequency or were present on only one island. New variants of Bw22 and B40 were found. Despite an overall similarity in antigens of the two islands, the combination of HLA-A, B and C antigens on the haplotype were distinctive. Of 328 total haplotypes identified, 65 were unique. Thirteen of these (20%) were present on both islands. Twenty-eight (43%) were unique to Hiva Oa and 24 (37%) were unique to Maiao . Significant, positive linkage disequilibrium values (delta) for HLA-A, B and HLA-B, C antigens were also different for the two populations.     

Rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene in juvenile chronic myeloid leukaemia

Summary. Five patients with clinical and laboratory features typical for juvenile chronic myeloid leukaemia (JCML) are presented. Rearrangement of the j joining region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (Jh) was demonstrated in three children out of five analysed. As no Vh to Dhjh nor kappa light chain rearrangements were demonstrated, it is reasonable to speculate that the transforming event of the stem cell happened at the stage when Dh to Jh rearrangement took place. As the monocytic lineage is prominent in JCML, it is suggested that the transforming event happens in a unique stem cell with intermediate differentiation towards the myelomonocytic as well as the B-lymphatic lineage. This stem cell, which is present at a certain stage of embryogen-esis, disappears later. Such an early'hybrid'cell is sometimes involved in leukaemias of early infancy, and may be the transformed cell in some cases of infantile leukaemia.     

Some Variations in Lymphocyte Freezing Methods Which Do Not Affect Cell Viability

Several variables which differed among lymphocyte freezing and storage protocols, including resuspending media, freezing containers, sealing methods, freezing apparatus, and storage units, were investigated. Loss of viability was variable with the freezing and thawing techniques used; however, in general, lowered viability was not dependent upon the variables tested. Good results were achieved with 3 different, inexpensive freezing devices: the modified-Hauschka box, a mechanical freezer set at — 68° C, and a Linde BF-5 biological freezer. Lymphocyte storage in the mechanical freezer proved satisfactory for as long as 5 months.     

PREVENTION OF NITROUS OXIDE-INDUCED MEGALOBLASTIC CHANGES IN BONE MARROW USING FOLINIC ACID

Prolonged anaesthesia with nitrous oxide inactivates vitaminB₁₂ and impairs DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells. The useof parenteral folinic acid in the prevention of these toxiceffects has been studied in 11 patients, ventilated artificiallywith nitrous oxide in oxygen for 24 h. Bone marrow aspirateswere performed before and after exposure to nitrous oxide. Theywere assessed morphologically and with the deoxyuridine suppressiontest. Folinic acid 30 mg immediately before anaesthesia and30 mg 12 h later, prevented the toxic effects of nitrous oxidein four out of five patients, whereas smaller amounts of folinicacid (between 3 and 36 mg in 24 h), were ineffective.     

ANTI-P ANTIBODIES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PSYCHIATRIC AND FOCAL CEREBRAL DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

In a cross-sectional study, 62 patients with systemic lupuserythematosus were assessed using standardized psychiatric andpsychological methods; systemic disease activity was scoredusing the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group and the LupusActivity Criteria Count indices IgG and IgM anti-P antibodieswere measured by ELISA using a synthetic 22 amino acid peptideas the relevant antigen. IgG and IgM anti-P antibodies weresignificantly associated with neuropsychiatric disorders (psychiatricand neurological) but failed to distinguish patients with psychiatricdisorders from those with neurological disorders. These antibodieswere not associated with cognitive impairment or systemic diseaseactivity. KEY WORDS: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Neuropsychiatric (psychiatric or neurological), Anti-P antibody