Reactive arthritis of the temporomandibular joints and cervical spine in a child

Background  

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis is frequently seen in children with chronic arthritis. It has rarely been described in a non-infectious acute setting. We report a case of reactive arthritis isolated to the TMJs and cervical spine.     

三种不同品系小鼠在肺肿瘤短期诱发试验中的敏感性比较

用不同剂量尿烷一次腹腔注射，对ＫＭ、ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ和Ａ／Ｊ系小鼠进行肺肿瘤短期诱导试验，以比较其敏感性，为环境化学物致癌性鉴定的实验条件提供依据。结果显示：以肺肿瘤发生率和平均发瘤数两项指数来衡量发瘤危险，Ａ／Ｊ系均在最低染毒剂量（２５ｍｇ／ｋｇ）即出现发瘤危险明显增高；ＫＭ系以发生率衡量时，１００ｍｇ／ｋｇ为发瘤危险增高的最低剂量，而以平均发瘤数衡量时，最低剂量为２００ｍｇ／ｋｇ；ＢＡＬＢ／ｃ系前     

Pygmaeoherin: A Novel Coumarin from Pygmaeopremna herbacea

A new 6-oxygenated coumarin, pygmaeoherin, was isolated from roots of PYGMAEOPREMNA HERBACEA. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods. An NOE experiment played an important role in confirming the structure.     

Comparative study on healing process between vascularized and non-vascularized autogenous bone grafts]

This study made a histological comparison (light microscope and transmission electron microscope) between vascularized bone graft (VBG) and non-vascularized bone graft (NVBG) in mandible of dog.The study showed:the healing process of VBG was the same as that of bone fracture.The "creeping substitution" process of NVBG was imbued with the inflammation induced by dead bone.There was no significat difference on the bone union between VBG and NVBG perhaps for the recipient region was better vascularized.     

Congenital muscular dystrophy with eye and brain malformations in six Dutch patients.

From four Dutch families six patients, who have congenital muscular dystrophy, involvement of the central nervous system and of the eyes, or the so-called "muscle, eye and brain disease" (MEB-D), are reported. Two patients are still alive, in four autopsy could be performed. The clinical and morphological data of our patients are compared to those described in recent literature. The progression of the disease was rapid in five of our six patients. Our study supports the idea that within the MEB-D syndrome there are at least two different types of clinical expression, one with a rapid progression as described by Dobyns et al 1989 (9) and one with a slower progression as described in most patients of Santavuori et al 1989 (23). The study also confirms the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance of MEB-D.     

Posttraumatic skeletal muscle proteolysis: The role of the hormonal environment

To investigate the role of hormones as mediators of net skeletal muscle proteolysis following injury, healthy normal male volunteers received a continuous 76-hour infusion of the 3 stress hormones: hydrocortisone, glucagon, and epinephrine. As a control, each subject received a saline infusion during another 4-day period. Ten paired studies were conducted. Diets were constant and matched on both occasions. Triple hormone infusion achieved hormone concentrations similar to those seen following mild-moderate injury. After 72 hours of infusion, skeletal muscle intracellular glutamine concentrations were lower in the hormone studies than in the control group (N=4). Free amino acid concentrations in arterial whole blood and forearm amino acid efflux were little affected by hormonal infusion. Thus, alteration of the hormonal environment by the triple hormone infusion was not a sufficient stimulus to induce all of the changes in skeletal muscle proteolysis observed in critical illness. Since studies utilizing neurohormonal blockade have shown diminished net muscle proteolysis, the stress hormones appear to be necessary but not sufficient for the protein catabolic response to injury.

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Resumen Con el propósito de investigar el papel de las hormonas como agentes mediadores de la proteolisis muscular neta que se presenta en el trauma y en otros estados críticos, se administró una infusión de las 3 hormonas del estrés, hidrocortisona, glucagón, y epinefrina, a voluntarios sanos por períodos continuos de 76 horas. Como control, cada individuo recibió una infusión de solución salina durante otro período de 4 días. Se condujeron 10 estudios apareados, con dietas constantes y similares en ambas ocasiones. La infusión triple de hormonas produjo concentraciones sanguíneas hormonales similares a las observadas en pacientes con trauma leve-moderado. A las 72 horas de la infusión las concentraciones intracelulares de glutamina en el mÚsculo esquelético aparecieron menores que en los estudios de control (N=4). Las concentraciones de aminoácidos libres en la sangre arterial y el flujo de salida de aminoácidos en el antebrazo resultaron mínimamente afectados por la infusión hormonal. Por lo tanto, la alteración del medio hormonal producida por infusión triple de hormonas no representa un estímulo suficiente para inducir la totalidad de las alteraciones en la proteolisis del mÚsculo esquelético que se observa en la enfermedad crítica. Puesto que los estudios con bloqueo neurohumoral han demostrado una disminución en la proteolisis muscular neta, las hormonas del estrés parecen ser necesarias, pero no suficientes de por sí, para la respuesta catabólica a la injuria biológica.

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Résumé Pour étudier le rôle des hormones dans la protéolyse posttraumatique de muscle squelettique, des volontaires de sexe mâle en bonne santé ont été perfusés pendant 76 heures avec les 3 hormones de stress: hydrocortisone, glucagon, et adrénaline. En contrôle, chaque patient a reÇu une perfusion de sérum physiologique pendant quatre jours. Dix études appariées ont été faites. Pendant les deux études, l'alimentation était la mÊme et constante. La perfusion des 3 hormones a provoqué une concentration semblable à celle qu'on observe après un traumatisme moyen. Après 72 heures, le taux de glutamine dans les muscles squelettiques était plus bas dans l'étude hormonale que dans l'étude contrôle (N=4). La concentration en acides aminés libres dans le sang artériel et notamment l'arrivée de sang dans l'avant-bras n'étaient que peu influencées par la perfusion hormonale. Ainsi, la perfusion avec augmentation de la concentration des 3 hormones de stress ne suffisait pas pour provoquer la protéolyse musculaire squelettique que l'on observe lors des maladies graves. Puisque d'autres études ont montré que le blocage neurohormonal diminue nettement la protéolyse musculaire, les hormones de stress semblent donc nécessaires mais non suffisantes dans la réponse catabolique protéinique au traumatisme.

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Supported by the National Institutes of Health Trauma Center Grant P50-GM 29327-03 and Clinical Research Center Grant no. 290-9299.     

Respiratory hazards in hard metal workers: a cross sectional study

A cross sectional study was conducted on 513 employees at three hard metal plants: 425 exposed workers (351 men, 74 women) and 88 controls (69 men, 19 women). Cough and sputum were more frequent in workers engaged in "soft powder" and presintering workshops compared with controls (12.5% and 16.5% v 3.5%). Spirometric abnormalities were more frequent among women in sintering and finishing workshops compared with control women (56.8% v 23.8%) and abnormalities of carbon monoxide test were more frequent in exposed groups than in controls; this difference was more pronounced in women (31.4% v 5.6%) than in men (18.5% v 13%). No significant correlation was observed between duration of exposure and age adjusted lung function tests. Slight abnormalities of chest radiographs (0/1, 1/1 according to ILO classification) were more frequent in exposed men than controls (12.8% v 1.9%) and mostly in soft powder workers. In subjects with abnormal chest radiographs FVC, FEV1 and carbon monoxide indices (fractional uptake of CO or CO transfer index or both) were lower compared with those with normal chest radiographs. Although relatively mild, the clinical, radiological, and functional abnormalities uncovered call for a regular supervision of workers exposed to hard metal dust.     

Study on "massage to activate the meridian" apparatus in the treatment of cholecystolithiasis

This apparatus is designed in accordance with the doctrine and principles of traditional Chinese medicine and based on the theory of meridian and specific massage procedure in conjunction with the "Information Theory" and electron utilizing technique. It utilizes a programmed induction "Special Wave" to stimulate a series of acupuncture points, combined with administration of western drugs from a regime of "General Attack" treatment on the gallbladder stones, to enhance their evacuation. By stimulating the specific acupuncture points with this apparatus through the action of "Special Wave" strong contraction of the gallbladder can be elicitated. Experiments on dogs showed that under such stimulation the intra-gallbladder pressure can be increased 26 times, producing a jet of bile flow which facilitates the expulsion and evacuation of stones in the gallbladder. Method of use: first place a conductive rubber pad on the acupuncture point to be stimulated, then use a hand-held electrode to massage-stimulate the meridian. It is carried out forward and backward along the direction of meridian. The whole procedure is carried out under direct visualization with the help of ultrasonic B-scan. When dilatation of the common bile duct is observed, the hand-help electrode is used to perform push-compress massage on the meridian, and acupuncture points making the stones enter the common bile duct B-scan give proper orientation for the manipulation. This method has been tested clinically on 410 patients with good results. The evacuation rate of the gallbladder stones was 92.7% with complete evacuation achieved in 17.3%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)