Patellofemoral joint: kinematic MR imaging to assess tracking abnormalities

The patellofemoral joint was imaged with magnetic resonance (MR) in the axial plane while the knee was positioned from 0 degrees to 32 degrees of flexion (nine positions). These multiple sequential images obtained within the early phases of flexion of the knee were viewed in a "cine-loop" format, producing a kinematic study that clearly demonstrated the relationship of the patella to the trochlear groove. Four healthy subjects and one patient with known bilateral subluxing patellae were studied. The preliminary results suggest that kinematic MR imaging of the patellofemoral joint is potentially useful for the evaluation of patellar tracking abnormalities.     

Schizophrenia, genetic retrenchment, and epidemiologic renaissance. The Sixth Biennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia, Badgastein, Austria, January 26-February 1, 1992.

A distinctive feature of these workshops, in addition to those noted in the introductory overview, is the selection of a relatively isolated location for a 1-week period. This, together with a rich and varied program and an ethos of informality, encourages participants to discuss not only the work presented but also their unpublished work and their intuitions based on preliminary data and analyses. Such an interchange is of inestimable value to the schizophrenia research community. In scientific terms, a panel of concluding discussants (Drs Kendell, Torrey, and Waddington) were in some measure of agreement that genetics, particularly molecular genetics, appears to be experiencing a period of retrenchment, while epidemiology is experiencing something of a renaissance. Maternal influenza was a prominent theme, although the data were far from consistent. It was argued by Dr Wessely that risk for schizophrenia putatively attributable to maternal influenza might be 5% to 10% of all cases, indicating a modest effect. Eclectically, Dr Kendell believed the effect to be "real" but slight and fragile, it being sought against large aggregates that almost inevitably result in differing findings from differing countries or from different data bases within a given country. Gender differences were also among the more prominent themes, not just in an epidemiologic context but also in a variety of other studies. This points anew to disturbances in schizophrenia of factors that regulate, or are intimately associated with, sexual dimorphism in brain development. Abnormalities in cerebral asymmetry continue to pervade a variety of research findings and point further to neurodevelopmental anomalies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Herpes simplex virus infection of human T-cell subpopulations.

The ability of herpes simplex virus type 1 to productively infect human T-cell subpopulations was examined. Unstimulated helper/inducer (T4+) and cytotoxic/suppressor (T8+) lymphocytes limited herpes simplex virus replication as effectively as unseparated peripheral blood T cells (T3+). Phytohemagglutinin stimulation before infection resulted in equivalently productive herpes simplex virus infections in the three cell fractions.     

Analysis of orthologous gene expression between human pulmonary adenocarcinoma and a carcinogen-induced murine model

Human adenocarcinoma (AC) is the most frequently diagnosed human lung cancer, and its absolute incidence is increasing dramatically. Compared to human lung AC, the A/J mouse-urethane model exhibits similar histological appearance and molecular changes. We examined the gene expression profiles of human and murine lung tissues (normal or AC) and compared the two species' datasets after aligning approximately 7500 orthologous genes. A list of 409 gene classifiers (P value <0.0001), common to both species (joint classifiers), showed significant, positive correlation in expression levels between the two species. A number of previously reported expression changes were recapitulated in both species, such as changes in glycolytic enzymes and cell-cycle proteins. Unexpectedly, joint classifiers in angiogenesis were uniformly down-regulated in tumor tissues. The eicosanoid pathway enzymes prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) and inducible prostaglandin E(2) synthase (PGES) were joint classifiers that showed opposite effects in lung AC (PGIS down-regulated; PGES up-regulated). Finally, tissue microarrays identified the same protein expression pattern for PGIS and PGES in 108 different non-small cell lung cancer biopsies, and the detection of PGIS had statistically significant prognostic value in patient survival. Thus, the A/J mouse-urethane model reflects significant molecular details of human lung AC, and comparison of changes in orthologous gene expression may provide novel insights into lung carcinogenesis.     

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7): a neurodegenerative disorder with neuronal intranuclear inclusions

Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia with progressive macular degeneration is caused by a CAG/glutamine repeat expansion in the SCA7 gene/protein. Neuronal intranuclear inclusions were detected in the brain of an early onset SCA7 case with the 1C2 antibody directed against an expanded polyglutamine domain. Nuclear inclusions were most frequent in the inferior olivary complex, a site of severe neuronal loss in SCA7. They were also observed in other brain regions, including the cerebral cortex, not considered to be affected in the disease. Using confocal microscopy we showed that some inclusions were ubiquitinated, but to varying degrees, ranging from <1% in the cerebral cortex to 60% in the inferior olive. In addition, we also observed cytoplasmic staining using the 1C2 antibody, particularly in the supramarginal gyrus, the hippocampus, the thalamus, the lateral geniculate body and the pontine nuclei. These data confirm that the presence of intranuclear inclusions in neurons is a common characteristic of disorders caused by CAG/polyglutamine expansions, but unlike what has been reported for Huntington's disease, SCA1 and SCA3/MJD, in SCA7 the inclusions were not restricted to the sites of severe neuronal loss.      

Critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a coasted in-vitro fertilization patient

We report an instance of critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a highly responsive in-vitro fertilization patient despite the preventive measure of a 4 day 'coast' interval during which no gonadotrophins were administered while gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist therapy continued until serum oestradiol concentrations fell below 3000 pg/ml.      

Incidence and determinants of moderate COPD (GOLD II) in male smokers aged 40–65 years: 5-year follow up

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem with an estimated prevalence of 10-15% among smokers. The incidence of moderate COPD, as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), is largely unknown. AIM: To determine the cumulative incidence of moderate COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio [FEV1/FVC] <0.7 and FEV1 <80% predicted) and its association with patient characteristics in a cohort of male smokers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The city of IJsselstein, a small town in the Netherlands. METHOD: Smokers aged 40-65 years who were registered with local GPs, participated in a study to identify undetected COPD. Baseline measurements were taken in 1998 of 399 smokers with normal spirometry (n = 292) or mild COPD (FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1 >or=80% predicted, n = 107) and follow-up measurements were conducted in 2003. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 5.2 years, 33 participants developed moderate COPD (GOLD II). This showed an estimated cumulative incidence of 8.3% (95% CI = 5.8 to 11.4) and a mean annual incidence of 1.6%. No participant developed severe airflow obstruction. The risk of developing moderate COPD in smokers with baseline mild COPD (GOLD I) was five times higher than in those with baseline normal spirometry (one in five versus one in 25). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of middle-aged male smokers, the estimated cumulative incidence of moderate COPD (GOLD II) over 5 years was relatively high (8.3%). Age, childhood smoking, cough, and one or more GP contacts for lower respiratory tract problems were independently associated with incident moderate COPD.     

Persistent infection of human lymphoid and myeloid cell lines with herpes simplex virus.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 replicated and persisted in human T, B, and myeloid cell lines with different patterns of viral replication and various effects on cell growth. T cell line CEM supported the replication of HSV for over 400 days without detectable differences in cell growth as compared with uninfected cells. HSV persisted in B cell line NC37 and myeloid cell line K562 for up to 222 and 374 days, respectively, but led to a significant decrease in the number of viable cells by 7 weeks of infection. The average number of cells producing infectious virus was very low in these cell lines (range, 0.5 to 2.7+) compared with a larger proportion of cells exhibiting HSV antigens by immunofluorescence (range, 24 to 58%). In contrast, null cell line LAZ 221 failed to replicate HSV even though the viral infection led to a cessation of cell growth.