Bilateral septic arthritis of the hip with osteitis and psoas abcess in a 17-year-old adolescent

Septic arthritis remains an important and serious disease of the young because of its high potential to cause permanent sequelae. The hip is the most commonly involved joint in infants and in the young (35%). Most often, patients have a single joint involved. We report here a rare case of septic arthritis reaching both hips, shown by a severe septicemic shock and complicated unusually by a psoas abcess and osteitis in an immunocompetent adolescent.     

Health related quality of life survey about children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

This study aimed to investigate the proxy-reported Health related quality of life (HRQOL) and its determinants in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). It was hypothesized that HRQOL would decrease with worsening disease and disability. Data were available in cross-sectional study on children and adolescents with JIA according to the ILAR criteria. Patient demographics, type of JIA, clinical determinants and laboratory parameters relating to JIA were obtained for each patient. Functional disability was assessed using the parent’s or children’s version of the child health assessment questionnaire (CHAQ). The HRQOL was evaluated using the juvenile arthritis quality of life questionnaire (JAQQ). These questionnaires were previously translated and validated in Moroccan children. A total of 80 participants were enrolled with mean age of 11 [6–17 years], and female predominance (59%). Many patients (42.5%) had oligoarticular subtype; 31.3% polyarticular subtypes and 26.2% systemic form. The mean global score of JAQQ was 2.6 ± 1.3 (1–6). Patients with persistant oligoarticular had better gross motor function (P < 0.0001), better fine motor function (P < 0.0001), less psychosocial impact (P = 0.001), and less symptoms (P = 0.001) in comparison with polyarticular and systemic subtypes. The HRQOL assessed by the JAQQ was worse in adolescent patients in comparison with children except for symptoms (P = 0.15). The gender (P = 0.95), age at onset of JIA (P = 0.81), and evolution duration (P = 0.34) were not correlated with global score of JAQQ. The diagnosis delay was significantly associated with decrease of HRQOL (P = 0.001). The decrease of HRQOL was correlated with disease activity [pain (VAS), painful and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (for P < 0.0001)], with disability index (CHAQ) (P = 0.001) and presence of hip involvement (P = 0.01). This study suggests that JIA can have a significant adverse effect on the HRQOL of moroccan patients, particularly adolescents with polyarticular and systemic subtypes. Disease duration, disability score (CHAQ) and pain were the strongest determinants of poorer HRQOL.     

The validity and reliability of the Moroccan version of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire

The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-R) is an updated version of the FIQ attempts to address the limitations of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). As there is no Moroccan version of the FIQ-R available, we aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of a Moroccan translation of the FIQR in Moroccan fibromyalgia (FM) patients. After translating the FIQR into Moroccan, it was administered to 80 patients with FM. All of the patients filled out the questionnaire together with Arabic version of short form-36 (SF-36). The tender-point count was calculated from tender points identified by thumb palpation. Three days later, FM patients filled out the Moroccan FIQR at their second visit. The test–retest reliability of the Moroccan FIQR questions ranged from 0.72 to 0.87. The test and retest reliability of total FIQR score was 0.84. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.91 for FIQR visit 1 (the first assessment) and 0.92 for FIQR visit 2 (the second assessment), indicating acceptable levels of internal consistency for both assessments. Significant correlations for construct validity were obtained between the Moroccan FIQ-R total and domain scores and the subscales of the SF-36 (FIQR total versus SF-36 physical component score and mental component score were r = ?0.69, P < 0.01 and r = ?0.56, P < 0.01, respectively). The Moroccan FIQ-R showed adequate reliability and validity. This instrument can be used in the clinical evaluation of Moroccan and Arabic-speaking patients with FM.     

Design, synthesis, and structure-affinity relationships of novel series of sialosides as CD22-specific inhibitors

Sialosides incorporating substituted amides or amines at 9-position of sialic acid moiety have been synthesized and evaluated as CD22 inhibitors. Several derivatives exhibited inhibitory potency in sub- to low micromolar range (e. g., 8o, 9d, 9g, and 9k showed IC 50 values 0.40, 0.47, 0.24, and 0.23 microM, respectively, for hCD22, while 8p, 8q, and 9f, showed IC 50 values 1.70, 2.90, and 4.10 microM, respectively, for mCD22). The most significant result was the strongly enhanced affinity of 9g and 9k containing 9-(2' or 4'-hydroxy-4-biphenyl) methylamino substituents (600-fold more potent for hCD22 than the corresponding 9-hydroxy derivative; 7a). Molecular modeling study was carried out to get some insights into the molecular basis of CD22 inhibition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic structure-affinity relationship study on inhibition of CD22.     

The minimal gene set member msrA, encoding peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase, is a virulence determinant of the plant pathogen Erwinia chrysanthemi

Peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase (MsrA), which repairs oxidized proteins, is present in most living organisms, and the cognate structural gene belongs to the so-called minimum gene set [Mushegian, A. R. & Koonin, E. V., (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93, 10268–10273]. In this work, we report that MsrA is required for full virulence of the plant pathogen Erwinia chrysanthemi. The following differences were observed between the wild-type and a MsrA⁻ mutant: (i) the MsrA⁻ mutant was more sensitive to oxidative stress; (ii) the MsrA⁻ mutant was less motile on solid surface; (iii) the MsrA⁻ mutant exhibited reduced virulence on chicory leaves; and (iv) no systemic invasion was observed when the MsrA⁻ mutant was inoculated into whole Saintpaulia ionantha plants. These results suggest that plants respond to virulent pathogens by producing active oxygen species, and that enzymes repairing oxidative damage allow virulent pathogens to survive the host environment, thereby supporting the theory that active oxygen species play a key role in plant defense.