Comparative immunolocalization studies of collagenase 1 and collagenase 3 production in the rheumatoid lesion, and by human chondrocytes and synoviocytes in vitro

The degradation of fibrillar type II collagen is a major feature of cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since collagenase 3 is produced by chondrocytes and preferentially degrades type II cartilage collagen, it seemed likely that this enzyme would have a prominent role in the destruction of rheumatoid joints. Using immunolocalization techniques, we have examined and compared the production and distributions of collagenase 1 and collagenase 3 in cells and tissues derived from rheumatoid knee arthroplasties. Primary cultures of chondrocytes stimulated with interleukin-1 beta showed that most of the cells produced collagenase 1, whereas only a minority (approximately 5-10%) produced collagenase 3; a few chondrocytes demonstrated the co-ordinate production of both enzymes. Primary cultures of rheumatoid synoviocytes produced collagenase 1, but not collagenase 3. Both enzymes were demonstrated in the rheumatoid lesion. Collagenase 1 was more commonly observed in both synovium and cartilage (22 of the 28 specimens), was especially prominent at cartilage erosion sites, and most of the positive specimens demonstrated extracellular enzyme. By contrast, collagenase 3 was observed less frequently (7/28 specimens) and was produced by relatively few chondrocytes and synovial cells, this usually being much less than that observed for chondrocytes of osteoarthritic cartilage. These observations suggest different regulatory mechanisms for the production of collagenases 1 and 3 in the rheumatoid lesion, and demonstrate that the distribution and production of collagenase 1 are far more prevalent than those for collagenase 3.      

Genotype of the cystic fibrosis population of the Hunter Region of New South Wales

Objective : To determine the genotype of patients attending the cystic fibrosis clinic at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia.
Methodology : Seventy-five of the 76 patients attending the clinic over a 6 month period had blood collected for genetic analysis of 17 of the cystic fibrosis (CF) gene mutations.
Results : Sixty-one per cent of the patients were homozygous for the ΔF508 mutation and all except one child had at least one ΔF508 mutation.
Discussion : Nearly 80% of the CF genes were the ΔF508 mutation. This prevalence suggests that the obligatory false negative rate of a newborn screening programme for CF based on a combination of immunoreactive trypsin and the ΔF508 gene may be as low as 4-5%.     

Establishment of two new myeloma cell lines from bilateral pleural effusions: evidence for sequential in vivo clonal change

Two new human myeloma cell lines have been established from a 36-year- old woman with refractory IgG kappa multiple myeloma in whom bilateral malignant pleural effusions developed. The malignant plasma cells from each effusion were set up in a liquid culture using an L-15 medium containing catalase, glutathione, selenous acid, ascorbic acid, insulin, transferrin, additional glutamine hydrocortisone, and 2- mercaptoethanol and designated as M-3 medium. Two IgG kappa cell lines, LB -831 and LB-832, were established and proved to be Epstein-Barr virus negative using the internal repeat sequence DNA probe. Characteristic plasma cell morphology was evident by light and electron microscopy. Immunotyping revealed an IgG kappa , B1+, B2-, Ia (HLA- DR)+, CALLA+ phenotype for each cell line as well as for the original pleural fluid and bone marrow myeloma cells. The supernatants also contained IgG kappa, beta 2 microglobulin, and large amounts of osteoclast-activating factor (indicating bone-resorbing activity). Cytogenetic analysis of the LB-831 cell line revealed a nearly triploid highly abnormal karyotype with numerous clonal chromosomal abnormalities involving chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 7, 13, and 15; several structurally abnormal marker chromosomes; and a putative homogeneously staining region on chromosome 7p at band p22. Analysis of the LB-832 cell line revealed several additional clonal abnormalities. These additional cytogenetic changes suggest that in vivo sequential clonal evolution occurred in this patient. Therefore, two new but related cell lines have been established, which should prove useful for further biological studies.     

Inhaled dry powder mannitol in children with cystic fibrosis: A randomised efficacy and safety trial

Introduction

Inhaled mannitol has beneficial effects on lung function, mucociliary clearance, quality of life and sputum properties. This trial examined the efficacy of inhaled mannitol in children with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Quality of measurements of acute surgical and traumatic wounds using a digital wound‐analysing tool

The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of measurements using a wound‐analysing tool and their interpretability. Wound surface areas and tissue types, such as granulation, slough and necrosis, in twenty digital photographs were measured using a specific software program. The ratio of these tissue types in a wound was calculated using a wound profile. We calculated the intraclass coefficient or κ for reliability, standard error of measurement (SEM) and smallest detectable change (SDC). The inter‐rater reliability intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0·99 for surface area, 0·76 for granulation, 0·67 for slough and 0·22 for necrosis. The profiles gave an overall κ of 0·16. For test–retest reliability, the ICC was 0·99 for surface area, 0·81 for granulation, 0·80 for slough and 0·97 for necrosis. The agreement of the applied profiles in the test–retest was 66% (40–100). SEM and SDC for surface area were 0·10/0·27; for granulation, 6·88/19·08; for slough, 7·17/19·87; and for necrosis, 0·35/0·98, respectively. Measuring wound surface area and tissue types by means of digital photo analysis is a reliable and applicable method for monitoring wound healing in acute wounds in daily practice as well as in research.     

铒激光擦皮术后色素沉着的防治对策

０　引言　东方人接受皮肤磨削术治疗后色素沉着的发生率明显高于西方人．尽管采用了目前被认为是最适宜亚洲人的铒激光治疗,色素沉着仍可发生．因此,在实施该手术治疗前应严格掌握适应证,制定严密的预防治疗措施,使得色素沉着的发生率降至最低,从而最大限度的防止医疗纠纷的发生．１　对象和方法１．１　对象　２１例患者,男２例,女１９例,平均年龄２９．２（０８～４８）岁．皱纹祛除８例,浅表疤痕７例,浅咖啡斑、黑子５例,不良纹眉１例．铒激光其它适应证：①老年斑;②细小皱纹;③“白皮肤”雀斑;④痤疮后疤痕⑤色素减退…     

The effects of up to 240 days of tacrolimus therapy on the gingival tissues of rats – a morphological evaluation

Background:  Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplantation, has been reported not to induce gingival overgrowth. However, prevalence studies are limited, and the methods used for assessing gingival overgrowth varies among studies.
Objective:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of up to 240 days of tacrolimus therapy on gingival tissues of rats.
Materials and methods:  Rats were treated for 60, 120, 180 and 240 days with daily subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg body weight of tacrolimus. After histological processing, the oral and connective tissue, volume densities of fibroblasts ( V _f), collagen fibers ( V _cf) and other structures ( V _o) were assessed in the region of the lower first molar.
Results:  After 60 and 120 days of treatment with tacrolimus, gingival overgrowth was not observed. The gingival epithelium, connective tissue, as well as the values for V _f, V _cf, and V _o were similar to those of the control rats ( P  > 0.05). After 180 and 240 days of the treatment, gingival overgrowth was associated with a significant increase in the gingival epithelium and connective tissue as well as an increase in the V _f and V _cf ( P  < 0.05).
Conclusions:  Within the limits of the experimental study, it may be concluded that the deleterious side effects of tacrolimus on the gingival tissues of rats may be time-related.     

Retention of cast crown copings cemented to implant abutments

Background: The cementation of crowns to dental implant abutments is an accepted form of crown retention that requires consideration of the properties of available cements within the applied clinical context. Dental luting agents are exposed to a number of stressors that may reduce crown retention in vivo, not the least of which is occlusal loading. This study investigated the influence of compressive cyclic loading on the physical retention of cast crown copings cemented to implant abutments. Methods: Cast crown copings were cemented to Straumann synOcta titanium implant abutments with three different readily used and available cements. Specimens were placed in a humidifier, thermocycled and subjected to one of four quantities of compressive cyclic loading. The uniaxial tensile force required to remove the cast crown copings was then recorded. Results: The mean retention values for crown copings cemented with Panavia‐F cement were statistically significantly greater than both KetacCem and TempBond non‐eugenol cements at each compressive cyclic loading quantity. KetacCem and TempBond non‐eugenol cements produced relatively low mean retention values that were not statistically significantly different at each quantity of compressive cyclic loading. Compressive cyclic loading had a statistically significant effect on Panavia‐F specimens alone, but increased loading quantities produced no further statistically significant difference in mean retention. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the current in vitro conditions employed in this study, the retention of cast crown copings cemented to Straumann synOcta implant abutments with a resin, glass ionomer and temporary cement was significantly affected by cement type but not compressive cyclic loading. Resin cement is the cement of choice for the definitive non‐retrievable cementation of cast crown copings to Straumann synOcta implant abutments out of the three cements tested.