A three-year prospective study of systemic manifestation in rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a systemic disease can attack many other organs in addition to the joints. A variety of pathological lesions of the blood vessels are...     

Cytomorphometric analysis of vaginal cells during normal cycle, under oral contraceptive therapy or in-vitro fertilization stimulation protocol

A cytomorphometric analysis of superficial vaginal cells inwomen in three groups of different types of hormonal concentrationwas made. There were 15 women in each group. Group I was studiedduring a natural cycle, group II under oral contraceptive therapyand group III during an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) stimulationprotocol. Morphometric parameters were measured on an imageanalyser. The area, perimeter and several form factors weremeasured separately for nuclei and cytoplasm. The nucleus:cytoplasmicratio was also determined. The cytoplasmic area was significantlyreduced in group II and was associated with a statisticallysignificant reduction of the nuclear area. The nucleus:cytoplasmicratio appeared significantly increased in group II and reducedin group III. Low oestradiol impregnation obtained with an oralminidosed contraceptive interfered with vaginal cell maturation.High oestradiol concentrations obtained during IVF protocolsinduced marked nuclear pycnosis but did not induce supra-physiologicalcell enlargement. Maximal cell size is genetically regulatedaccording to Driesch's law of volume invariance and hormonalover-stimulation has no effect on cell size. The nucleus:cytoplasmicratio appears to be a powerful parameter reflecting the oppositeeffects of hormones on cell compartments.     

Effects of baclofen and phaclofen on receptive field properties of rat whisker barrel neurons

Extracellular single-unit recordings were made in somatosensory cortical barrels of fentanyl-sedated rats. Whiskers were deflected singly or in paired combinations. lontophoretically-applied (−)-baclofen disproportionately reduced weak responses, and phaclofen disproportionately increased them, resulting in more tightly focused or more broadly focused receptive fields, respectively. Both drugs had only minor effects on surround inhibition. In light of previous findings, we conclude that GABA_A and GABA_B mechanisms both act to enhance spatial contrast, but that the former plays a much greater role in enhancing temporal resolution.     

Identification of two genetic markers that distinguish pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of Acanthamoeba spp.

Species-level identification of Acanthamoeba isolates is difficult and gives little or no indication of the isolate's pathogenicity. We identified two amplification-based genetic markers that were highly correlated with pathogenicity in Acanthamoeba spp. One marker, designed to amplify a 485-bp fragment of the small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene (ssrDNA), was preferentially amplified from the nonpathogenic strains; amplifications from the pathogenic strains yielded anomalous fragments of 650 and 900?bp. A second marker was developed on the basis of the anomalous 650-bp fragment. Primers to this sequence preferentially amplified a noncoding locus (called Ac6) only from the pathogenic strains. These two genetic markers may be useful for identification of pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. strains.     

Cylindrical spirals of myofilamentous origin associated with exertional cramps and rhabdomyolysis

We describe the presence of cylindrical spirals on muscle biopsy from a 31-year-old man who developed rhabodomyolysis following a long run. He had a prior history of exertional cramps and myoglobinuria. His maternal grandfather had similar symptoms. Transmission electron micrographs demonstrated continuity between the lamellae of the cylindrical spirals and native myofilaments. Whether these unusual structures confer a derangement in myofilament function is uncertain.     

Ultrasonic diagnosis of meniscus lesions

Controversy exists about the value of ultrasonography of meniscal tears. We therefore examined 101 knee joints of 99 patients in a prospective study. Prior to the arthroscopy the menisci were scanned from an independent team by using 7.5 and 10.0 MHz ultrasound waves. 81 meniscal tears were seen at arthroscopy; 36% of these tears could not be detected with the scanner (? false negative results) while 20% of intact menisci showed positive echogenic structures, which were analysed as meniscal tears. It seems that ultrasonography of the menisci is still of experimental use without any clinical importance.     

The “Biplanar” forehead lift

A new technique of forehead rhytidectomy is presented that combines the best features of the coronal incision with those of the anterior hairline incision. The plane of dissection is formed by an anterior subcutaneous plane dissecting a lateral subgaleal plane. This approach is particularly valuable in patients with high foreheads, severe static wrinkling, and asymmetrical eyebrows.Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Boston, MA, 1984