Spontaneous and experimental osteoarthritis in dog: similarities and differences in proteoglycan levels.

The unilateral canine model is the most commonly used model of experimental osteoarthritis (OA). In this model, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of one knee is transected and the contralateral joint is usually used as a control. However, dogs, similar to humans, can develop OA spontaneously with old age. Additionally, certain breeds of dogs are genetically predisposed to OA and can develop symptoms at a young age. The goal of this study was to compare the pathological changes of proteoglycans in OA cartilage from dogs that developed OA spontaneously to those that underwent ACL transection. For this reason, biglycan, decorin and fibromodulin levels and degradation patterns were compared by Western blot hybridization, and aggrecan contents were quantified by dimethylmethylene blue assay. The changes in proteoglycan levels in the cartilage of dogs with spontaneous OA, regardless of their age, were very similar to those published for human OA cartilage. However, when OA developed as a result of ACL-surgery, the changes in proteoglycans were different from those of slowly developing spontaneous OA. Therefore, these differences should be taken into consideration when the ACL-transection model is used.     

Iron supplement in pregnancy and development of gestational diabetes—a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Objective  To test the hypothesis that iron supplement from early pregnancy would increase the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Design  Randomised placebo-controlled trial.
Setting  A university teaching hospital in Hong Kong.
Population  One thousand one hundred sixty-four women with singleton pregnancy at less than 16 weeks of gestation with haemoglobin (Hb) level between 8 and 14 g/dl and no pre-existing diabetes or haemoglobinopathies.
Methods  Women were randomly allocated to receive 60 mg of iron supplement daily ( n = 565) or placebo ( n = 599). Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed at 28 and 36 weeks. Women were followed up until delivery.
Outcome measures  The primary outcome was development of GDM at 28 weeks. The secondary outcomes were 2-hour post-OGTT glucose levels, development of GDM at 36 weeks and delivery and infant outcomes.
Results  There was no significant difference in the incidence of GDM in the iron supplement and placebo groups at 28 weeks (OR: 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7–1.53 at 90% power) or 36 weeks. Maternal Hb and ferritin levels were higher in the iron supplement group at delivery ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). Elective caesarean section rate was lower in the iron supplement group (OR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37–0.89). Infant birthweight was heavier ( P = 0.001), and there were fewer small-for-gestational-age babies in the iron supplement group (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24–0.85).
Conclusion  Iron supplement from early pregnancy does not increase the risk of GDM. It may have benefits in terms of pregnancy outcomes.     

Osteolysis: basic science.

Since the recognition of aseptic loosening by Charnley in the early 1960s, much information has been gained on the basic science of periprosthetic bone loss. Initially termed cement disease, it now generally is accepted that, in most instances, osteolysis is a manifestation of an adverse cellular response to phagocytosable particulate wear and corrosion debris, possibly facilitated by local hydrodynamic effects. Tissue explant, animal, and cell culture studies have allowed us to compile an appreciation of the complexity of cellular interactions and chemical mediators involved in osteolysis. Cellular participants have been shown to include the macrophage, osteoblast, fibroblast, and osteoclast. The plethora of chemical mediators that are responsible for the cellular responses and effects on bone include prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1, and interleukin 6. However, an increasing number of other proinflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines, prostenoids, and enzymes have been shown to play important roles in this process. The ultimate goal of basic research is to develop novel strategies for evaluation and treatment of patients with osteolysis. Although initial animal studies are promising for possible pharmacologic treatment and prevention of osteolysis, well-controlled human trials are required before agents such as bisphosphonates can be recommended for general clinical use.     

Validation of a prognostic scoring system for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated by stereotactic radiosurgery

Background  

Selection of patients with local failure of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) for appropriate type of salvage treatment can be difficult due to the lack of data on comparative efficacy of different salvage treatments. The purpose of the present study was to validate a previously published prognostic scoring system for local failures of NPC treated by radiosurgery based on reported results in the literature.     

Comparison of single versus fractionated dose of stereotactic radiotherapy for salvaging local failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a matched-cohort analysis

Background

Oral submucous fibrosis is a common oral health problem in India. This study was conducted to correlate the histopathological diagnosis with habits and clinical findings in patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).

Methods

Patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis from the Departments of Otorhinolayngology and Pathology, Moti Lal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad, India were studied from 2004–2008. Detailed information was gathered in a pretested proforma. Emphasis was given to the various addictions, clinical findings and histological examination was done.

Results

Two hundred and thirty nine patients were studied, yielding a male to female ratio of 6.8:1. Maximum patients were in the 21–30 years age group with a marked male predominance. Of these, 197 (82.4%) patients chewed areca nut/dohra, 14 (5.8%) were smokers and 2 (0.8%) patients were habituated to alcohol. 89(37.2%) patients reported difficulty in opening of the mouth (trismus). 51 (57.4%) patients were found to have stage II (2–3 cm) trismus while rest had stage I and III. The buccal mucosa was found to be the most commonly involved site. On the basis of histopathological examination, 52(21.7%) were classified as OSF grade I, 75(31.3%) patients as grade II and 112(46.8%) had grade III disease.

Conclusion

The widespread habit of chewing dohra/paan masala is a major risk factor of OSF, especially in the younger age group. In this study, an increase in histopathological grading was found with severity and duration of addiction habit. However no significant correlation was found between clinical staging and histopathological grading.     

RP-HPLC测定立复欣注射液的含量

目的：建立一种快速简便的反相HPLC法测定立复欣注射液的含量,同时考察25度立复欣注射液在5％GS,0．9％NS和10％GNS中的稳定性,方法：采用Lichrospher 100(RP-8.5um*250mm)柱,以甲醇－乙腈－0．04M KH2PO4溶液（31．5：31．5：37）为流动相,流速1ml/min,柱温40度,254nm柴外检测;观察溶液的外观并用酸度计测定其PH值,结果：回收率为100．5：37）为流动相,流速1ml/min,柱温40度,254nm紫外检测,观察溶液的外观并用酸度计测定其PH值,结果：回收率为100．87％,RSD＝1．4％（n=5),在4－120mg/l范围内,峰面积对浓度呈良好的线性关系,r=0\99989,25度下样品在输液中的PH值,含量及颜色在0－6h内均无明显变化。结论：本法简速,灵敏底高,准确性好;25度,6h内样 在上述输液中稳定性好。     

The clinical indications for identical pathogenesis of isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

In the present population-based study, we compared the clinical data of testicular relapses with and without concurrent bone marrow relapse and clinical data of the relapses in other locations among boys with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), in order to study the possible evidence of early sequestration and local regulation of leukaemic lymphoblast in the testis of humans. The results suggest that the pathogenesis of isolated testicular relapse (T) and testicular relapse with a concurrent bone marrow relapse (T+BM) is likely to be similar. Isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses appeared late after the achievement of remission (T 34±16 months, T+BM 32±15 months) in ALL compared to relapses in other locations (CNS 23±11 months, BM 25±19 months). The better prognosis after testicular relapses (estimated second event free survival probability, 2-EFS: T 0.63, T+BM 0.32) compared to bone marrow relapse (2-EFS: BM 0.13) further suggests that testicular relapse with a concurrent bone marrow relapse possibly originates from the isolated testicular relapse, and that the isolated testicular relapse is a separate entity and not a manifestation of systemic recurrence. Higher frequencies of isolated and non-isolated testicular relapses (T 9%, T+BM 5%) were observed among boys with onset of ALL in early puberty (10-12y) compared to those among younger (T 4%, T+BM 2%) and older (T 0%, T+BM 0%) boys. The late occurrence, the possible association with hormonal maturation and the good prognosis after testicular relapses suggest a possible local regulation of the residual leukaemic lymphoblast in human testis.