Testosterone implants into the lateral septum of male rats, a positive effect on LH and FSH secretion

After two days, testosterone implanted into the lateral septum increased serum levels of LH and FSH in male Wistar rats. As measured by RIA, LH in animals with testosterone implanted in them in comparison to those with an empty cannula was 0.220 +/- 0.015 vs. 0.111 +/- 0.019 ng/ml; p less than 0.001 and FSH was 3.20 + 0.21 vs. 1.50 + 0.21 ng/ml; p less than 0.001. Serum testosterone was not increased to a statistically significant extent by the implants (4.12 +/- 0.54 vs. 2.87 +/- 0.42 ng/ml; ns). It was concluded that testosterone or possibly one of its metabolites acting in the lateral septum facilitates the release of LH and FSH.     

Validation of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in the Assessment of Experimental Gout Synovitis

The objective of this study was to validate musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) in a rabbit model of acute gout. Acute gout was induced by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in 10 rabbits; the 3 controls received vehicle. Rabbit knees were assessed by B-mode and power Doppler (PD) US 24 and 72?h after injections. After 72?h, all rabbits were euthanized. US discriminated between the MSU-injected and control groups with respect to the different inflammatory findings at both at 24 and 72?h and for MSU crystal-related findings after 24?h of injection. US synovial thickening, intra-synovial power Doppler signal and global joint distension significantly correlated with the synovial global histopathological score (r?=?0.47, p?=?0.0188), tissue vascularization measured by CD31 immunohistochemical-positive staining (r?=?0.46, p?=?0.0172) and tissue levels of interleukin-1β (r?=?0.53, p?=?0.0078), respectively. US is a valid method for assessment of synovial inflammation in experimental gouty arthritis in rabbits.     

Comparison of recombinant cathepsins L1, L2, and L5 as ELISA targets for serodiagnosis of bovine and ovine fascioliasis

Parasitology Research - Infections caused by Fasciola hepatica are of great importance in the veterinary field, as they cause important economic losses to livestock producers. Serodiagnostic...     

Ultrasound salivary gland involvement in Sjogren’s syndrome vs. other connective tissue diseases: is it autoantibody and gland dependent?

Clinical Rheumatology - This study aims to investigate ultrasound (US) findings on salivary glands (SG) in patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) vs. other connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and...     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter -308G/A and -238G/A polymorphisms in Mexican patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

The association between some Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) promoter polymorphisms and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains controversial. Ethnic differences may play a role in these conflicting results. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between -308G/A and -238G/A polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the TNF-α gene and T2DM in Mexican mestizo patients. Nine hundred four individuals (259 patients with T2DM and 645~controls) were genotyped for the -308G/A and -238G/A polymorphisms by PCR--RFLP. We found that the -238A allele increased the risk of developing T2DM in Mexican patients (OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.07-2.29; p=0.018). Moreover, we found that the frequency of the GA haplotype (created by the -308G and -238A alleles) was significantly increased in patients with T2DM when compared with controls (OR =1.56, 95% CI: 1.05-2.31; p=0.026). Our results suggest that the -238G/A polymorphism and a specific haplotype (GA) are genetic risk factors for the development of T2DM in Mexican population.     

Power Doppler ultrasonographic monitoring of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the validity, responsiveness, and predictive value of power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) monitoring of response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocking agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Three hundred sixty-seven RA patients were prospectively recruited at 25 Spanish centers; complete clinical, laboratory, and PDUS data were obtained on 278 patients. The patients underwent clinical, laboratory, and PDUS assessment at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of anti-TNF treatment, and radiographic assessment of the hands and feet at baseline and 12 months. The Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) was recorded at each visit. PDUS examination included 86 intraarticular and periarticular sites in 28 joints. US synovial fluid (SF), synovial hypertrophy (SH), and PD signal were scored in all synovial sites. US count and index for SF, SH, and PD signal were obtained. Sensitivity to change of the PDUS variables was assessed by estimating the smallest detectable difference (SDD) from the intraobserver variability. RESULTS: A significant parallel improvement in DAS28 and PDUS parameters was found at followup assessment (P < 0.0005 for within-subject between-visit changes). The SDD for PDUS parameters was lower than the mean changes throughout followup. Time-integrated values of US joint count for PD signal and rheumatoid factor (RF) showed predictive value in relation to progression of radiographic erosion (R = 0.64), and time-integrated values of US joint count for PD signal, RF, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were predictors of progression of the total radiographic score (R = 0.59). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that PDUS is a valid method for monitoring response to anti-TNF therapy in RA; results obtained by PDUS are reproducible and sensitive to change. PDUS findings may have predictive value in relation to radiologic outcome.