Posterior Cervical-Thoracic Thermograms: Pattern Persistence and Correlation with Chronic Headache Syndromes

SYNOPSIS
These experiments investigate thermographic patterns in the posterior cervical/thoracic (PCT) region of 530headache patients and 30 headache/injury-free volunteers. The study examines: The longitudinal persistence ofProximal and Distal patterns; three distinct midline patterns (PCT I, II, and III); and their correlation with diagnosis,injury, and pain.
Twenty-four (80%) of 30 randomly selected subjects displayed unchanged Proximal patterns at the meanobservation period of 5.5 months. PCT pattern fluctuations occurred in 13/30 (43.3%) subjects. The distinctivenessof each subject's Proximal and Distal patterns was verified by blind calling of thermogram pairs. Patternpersistence was validated with alcohol spray-Patterns were identical regardless of using a 0.5°C or 1.0°Ctemperature setting. Temperature settings of 1.0°C yielded more distinct Proximal and Distal patterns.
Chi square analysis determined that there was no significant difference in the number of PCT III patterns in theexperimental or control groups.
In conclusion, it appears that Proximal and Distal Patterns may be consistent over time and individually unique,but that PCT patterns fluctuate and, therefore, do not correlate with chronic headaches.     

Neutralization Susceptibility of B Subtype Variant B' Primary HIV-1 Isolates

Susceptibility to autologous and heterologous neutralization of primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 isolates belonging to subtype B, to the B'-variant of subtype B or to subtype F from infected individuals residing in Rio de Janeiro was assayed. A lower infectivity of the B'- and F isolates when compared to the classical B-subtype HIV-1 isolates was observed. Comparisons of neutralization susceptibilities were carried out for 19 B-subtype, 11 B'-variant and two F-subtype HIV-1 isolates with plasma from autologous and heterologous samples. Frequency of autologous neutralization was slightly lower for B-subtype isolates in comparison to B'-variant isolates. Heterologous intra-subtype neutralization was significantly lower for B-subtype than for the B'-variant or the F-subtype isolates. While B-subtype isolates were neutralized by most anti-F-subtype plasma, F-subtype isolates, although most susceptible to F-subtype antibodies, were highly susceptible to neutralization by anti-B-subtype antibodies. Cross-neutralization for B'-variant and B-subtype isolates was not as extensive as observed for B- and F-subtype isolates. However, the results presented indicate a quite extensive cross-neutralization between Brazilian HIV-1 isolates.     

The use of quinacrine (Atabrine) in rheumatic diseases: A reexamination

Atabrine has been available for nearly 60 years. It has a variety of actions and has been administered to millions of individuals. Its antirheumatic properties have been well documented but have not been exploited optimally for a variety of reasons. The drug is generally quite safe and could be used in low doses in lupus and rheumatoid arthritis patients as a steroid-sparing agent or synergistically with hydroxychloroquine. Its bothersome side effects should not deter the clinician from using it, because they are easy to deal with or prevent (Table 5). Future studies should attempt to better characterize the immunosuppressive actions of this powerful drug, particularly in the treatment of lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies of the role of combination or single-agent antimalarial therapy in combination with other "remittive" drugs could be of great potential benefit.     

Treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis by selective targeting of memory effector T lymphocytes

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic plaques are characterized by infiltration with CD4+ CD45RO+ and CD8+ CD45RO+ memory effector T lymphocytes. The recombinant protein alefacept binds to CD2 on memory effector T lymphocytes, inhibiting their activation. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, we evaluated alefacept as a treatment for psoriasis. Two hundred twenty-nine patients with chronic psoriasis received intravenous alefacept (0.025, 0.075, or 0.150 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo weekly for 12 weeks, with follow-up for 12 additional weeks. Before treatment, the median scores on the psoriasis area-and-severity index were between 14 and 20 in all groups (0 denotes no psoriasis and 72 the most severe disease possible). RESULTS: Alefacept was well tolerated and nonimmunogenic. The mean reduction in the score on the psoriasis area-and-severity index two weeks after treatment was greater in the alefacept groups (38, 53, and 53 percent in the groups receiving 0.025, 0.075, and 0.150 mg per kilogram, respectively) than in the placebo group (21 percent, P<0.001). Twelve weeks after treatment, 28 patients who had received alefacept alone were clear or almost clear of psoriasis. Three patients in the placebo group were clear or almost clear; all three had received additional systemic therapy for psoriasis. Alefacept reduced peripheral-blood memory effector T-lymphocyte (CD45RO+) counts, and the reduction in the number of memory-effector T lymphocytes was correlated with the improvement in psoriasis. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with alefacept for 12 weeks is associated with improvement in chronic plaque psoriasis; some patients have a sustained clinical response after the cessation of treatment. Alefacept selectively targets CD45RO+ memory effector T lymphocytes, suggesting that they have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.     

淋病奈瑟氏菌中国流行株gyrA和parC基因与喹诺酮类耐药性的相关性

目的　调查中国地区淋病奈瑟氏菌 (NG)对喹诺酮类的耐药性状况 ,探讨高水平耐药的基因突变株对喹诺酮类耐药机制的作用 .方法　对 9a来临床分离保存淋球菌流行株进行了体外环丙沙星 (CIP)药敏实验 .筛选出 76株高水平CIP耐药株 ,通过 PCR扩增了其中的 1 8株 NG的 gyr A和par C喹诺酮耐药决定区基因 ,并对扩增子直接测序 .通过N he I酶切、脉冲电场凝胶电泳 (PFEG)分析了这些菌株的遗传关系 .结果　环丙沙星的耐药检出率有逐年增高的趋势 ,MIC≥ 1 .0 mg· L- 1的菌株由 1 993年的 5 .1 %上升到 2 0 0 1年的 2 1 .4% .对照组中的 1 8株敏感菌只有两株发生了 gyr A的单一突变 ,未发现 par C变异 ;而耐药组中 89% (1 6 )菌株的gyr A发生了 Ser- 91向 Phe的单一突变株或 (和 ) par C的双突变 .88.9% (1 5 )的菌株的 gyr A发生了 Ser- 91向 Phe和 Asp-95向 Gly的突变 .在发生 par C突变中 72 %属于 Asp- 86向Asn突变 .PFEG分析发现 1 0株具有完全一致的 gyr A和par C突变模式 .同时也发现来自不同地区的菌株的 PFEG指纹图是不同的 .结论　研究表明 ,在中国 NG流行株对喹诺酮类耐药率呈增长趋势 ;NG流行株对喹诺酮产生耐药性与gyr A和 par C基因双重突变有着密切的关系