MRI changes in psoriatic dactylitis--extent of pathology, relationship to tenderness and correlation with clinical indices

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the extent of inflammation in psoriatic dactylitis and to examine the relationship between clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in both tender and non-tender dactylitis. METHODS: Seventeen patients with psoriatic dactylitis underwent clinical assessment for 6 months after change of treatment, usually to methotrexate. Measures of dactylitis included the Leeds Dactylitis Index, the assessment tool used in the Infliximab in Psoriatic Arthritis Clinical Trial (IMPACT), a simple count of tender dactlylitic digits and a count of all dactylitic digits, both tender and non-tender. MRI scans of the affected hand or foot were performed before and after treatment using a 1.5T Siemen's scanner pre- and post-contrast. RESULTS: All patients improved clinically, as did their respective dactylitis scores and MRI images. The findings on MRI in both dactylitic and non-dactylitic digits were profound and widespread. The difference between tender and non-tender dactylitis was quantitative rather than qualitative. Synovitis and soft-tissue oedema were the most frequent abnormalities being present in 69% of tender dactylitic digits but bone oedema and flexor tenosynovitis were also frequently seen. Soft-tissue oedema was circumferential and enhancing and not limited to association with the flexor or extensor tendons. None of the clinical indices of dactylitis showed a close relationship to the extent of MRI abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: MRI images demonstrate widespread abnormalities in digits of people with psoriatic arthritis. Tender dactylitic digits have more abnormalities than other digits but the relationship between clinical and MRI scores is not strong.     

Attitudes of Irish dental, dental hygiene and dental nursing students and newly qualified practitioners to tobacco use cessation: a national survey

BACKGROUND: Ireland has some of the strictest smoking regulations in the world. Little is known of the attitudes of student Irish dental healthcare workers towards tobacco control and tobacco use cessation. This study aimed at determining the knowledge and attitudes of these students towards the deleterious effects of tobacco in the mouth and towards tobacco use cessation in dental practice. METHOD: A questionnaire survey was distributed to 654 students (including newly qualified) on dentistry, dental hygiene and dental nursing programmes in Irish dental schools. Information sought included college, course, year of study, sex, age, nationality, smoking status, knowledge of effects of tobacco in the mouth and attitudes towards tobacco use cessation in dental practice and towards the Irish smoking bans. MAIN FINDINGS: There was a 90% response rate. In all, 12% of dental students, 25% of dental hygiene students and 31% of dental nursing students were current smokers. Newly qualified dental hygienists were as knowledgeable about tobacco effects in the mouth as newly qualified dentists. Overall, the majority in each student category believed that all three groups could be effective tobacco counsellors and should provide tobacco use cessation counselling to patients, although less than half of evening course dental nursing students felt that dental nurses could be effective counsellors or should provide counselling. There was overwhelming support for the Irish smoking ban. Only a minority of dental students and dental nursing students had received instruction in tobacco use cessation counselling. CONCLUSIONS: There are strong positive attitudes to tobacco use cessation counselling in dental practice among these young dental healthcare students. This is true even amongst those who have not received specific instruction in tobacco use cessation counselling.     

Experimental Models of Neuropathic Fecal Incontinence: An Animal Model of Childbirth Injury to the Pudendal Nerve and External Anal Sphincter

Purpose  Childbirth is the most common cause of fecal incontinence and damage to the pudendal nerve is a major component of childbirth injury. This study was designed to develop an acute animal model of injury to the innervation of the external anal sphincter. Methods  Forty-eight female virgin wistar rats were studied. Two models of neuropathic injury were developed. Bilateral inferior rectal nerve crush (Group A) acted as a positive control. Prolonged intrapelvic retrouterine balloon inflation (Group B) simulated the pelvic compressive forces of labor. Quantitative analysis of external anal sphincter muscle function was performed by using electromyography, external anal sphincter specific force production, and stereologic calculation of external anal sphincter mass. Results  Injury in both groups caused significant atrophy of the external anal sphincter (P = 0.002, ANOVA) and electromyographic evidence of reinnervation at one week. Specific force (mN force per mg mass) was not altered. External anal sphincter muscle mass recovered after four weeks in Group B. Conclusions  Balloon dilation within the boney pelvis results in denervation of the external anal sphincter and offers an experimental model of the effects of childbirth on the continence mechanism in humans. Supported by a grant from The Health Research Board, Ireland. Presented at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, St. Louis, Missouri, June 2 to 6, 2007, and was the winner of the Research Forum Prize.     

A national medical register: balancing public transparency and professional privacy

The first aim of a medical registration scheme should be to protect patients. Medical registration boards currently offer variable information to the public on doctors' registration status. Current reform proposals for a national registration scheme should include free public access to professional profiles of registered medical practitioners. Practitioner profiles should include: practitioner's full name and practice address; type of qualifications; year first registered, and duration and type of registration; any conditions on registration and practice; any disciplinary action taken; and participation in continuing professional education.     

Associations between cartilage proteoglycan density and patient outcomes 12 months following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Background

Lower proteoglycan density (PGD) of the articular cartilage may be an early marker of osteoarthritis following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACL-R). The purpose this study was to determine associations between the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) and PGD of the articular cartilage in the femur and tibia 12-months following ACL-R.

慢性粒细胞性白血病干细胞抗伊马替尼机制的初步分析

目的：了解伊马替尼对慢性粒细胞性白血病患者体内BCR／ABL融合基因阳性的原始及定向白血病干，祖细胞分化及增殖的影响，从而更深入阐明部分慢性粒细胞性白血病患者在经历一段血液学甚至是细胞遗传学水平上的完全缓解后复发及对伊马替尼耐药的机制。 方法：实验于2006—09/2007—06在河南省血液病研究所完成。①对象：选取10例慢性粒细胞白血病患者，患者对治疗及实验知情同意：实验经医学伦理委员会批准。实验过程中应用的伊马替尼为Novartis公司产品，批号B-1701-0001-000005；氟波酯为浙川制药公司产品，批号030321495。②实验方法：抽取慢性粒细胞性白血病患者骨髓10mL，分离得到具有血液血管干细胞特性、BCR／ABL融合基因阳性的FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞。以诱导造血集落的前48h，96h，120h内培养体系中含5μmol/L伊马替尼分别作为伊马替尼1，2，3组，设立空白对照，均体外培养18d，检测伊马替尼对造血集落培养基中的未分化及处于分化阶段的BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞的增殖抑制作用。采用流式细胞术将BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞分为3个亚群，即G0期、G1期及S/G2＋M期，分别评估氟波酯、伊马替尼、氟波酯联合伊马替尼对3个亚群细胞的体外增殖及凋亡的影响。 结果：①伊马替尼对处于分化阶段BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞增殖及向血管内皮细胞分化的影响：与空白对照组比较，伊马替尼1组每1000个BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞产生的粒-单系祖细胞集落数、红系爆式集落数无明显变化（P〉0．05），伊马替尼2，3组两种造血集落数均显著降低（P〈0．05）。在内皮诱导体系中与空白对照组比较，伊马替尼3组CD31^＋／vWF^＋细胞出现率明显降低（P〈0．05），且分化形成血管样结构的时间延迟。②伊马替尼诱导BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞及其分化细胞凋亡的比较：5μmol/L伊马替尼作用48h后，BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞凋亡数量明显低于其分化的造血、血管内皮细胞（P〈0．05）。③氟波酯联合伊马替尼对白血病干细胞体外分化及凋亡的影响：氟波酯联合伊马替尼能显著诱导处于G0期的BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞分化为造血细胞，同时也能显著诱导其凋亡。单独应用氟波酯或伊马替尼均对处于Go期的BCR／ABL融合基因阳性FIk1^＋CD31^-CD34细胞凋亡无呀显影响．进入G，期及S/G2＋M期后有一定的促凋亡作用。 结论：①临床所观察到的慢性粒细胞性白血病患者在运用伊马替尼一段时间后出现正常的造血恢复现象，可能仅仅是因为伊马替尼清除了定向恶性白血病祖细胞的增殖。②氟波酯联合伊马替尼可有效诱导原始白血病干细胞的分化及凋亡。     

Immunoperoxidase localization of human papillomavirus in laryngeal papillomas

Five antigenically distinct serotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause various cutaneous verrucae with distinct clinical features. Laryngeal and other mucosal papillomas, also suspected to have a viral etiology, were examined for the presence of a genus-specific (common) antigen of HPV using a peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique. The primary antiserum used was reactive against laryngeal papillomas from 26 of 35 randomly selected patients (74%); overall, 49 of the 102 squamous papillomas stained were positive for HPV (48%). HPV antigen was not demonstrated within frankly dysplastic squamous cells. Nuclear localization of virus was confirmed by electron microscopy in 3 cases positive for HPV. PAP localization of HPV is rapid and more efficient than routine electron microscopy. Our data indicate a common pathogenesis for some papillomas and cutaneous verrucae and suggest a future role for immunohistochemistry in evaluating the epidemiology and pathobiology of laryngeal papillomatosis.