Prediction of progression of radiologic damage in newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To investigate the extent to which early radiologic damage is predicted by joint inflammation in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Regression analysis was performed on 1-year progression of total radiologic damage for baseline characteristics and cumulative disease activity measures, and the effects of continued joint inflammation on the progression of damage in separate joint groups were investigated. Results. Odds ratios for progression of total damage were 12 for the presence of rheumatoid factor, 5 for the presence of damage at baseline, and 2 for cumulative joint inflammation. A positive association between continued joint inflammation and progression of damage was found to be statistically significant for most joint groups. Conclusion. Progression of radiologic damage in patients with newly diagnosed RA is independently associated with the presence of rheumatoid factor and damage at baseline and with cumulative joint inflammation.     

Psychodramatische Gruppentherapie per Skype – geht das überhaupt?!

Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie - Dieser Beitrag der Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie beleuchtet das psychodrama-therapeutische Gruppensetting im virtuellen Raum...     

Measuring progress to healing: A challenge and an opportunity

Complete healing is problematic as an endpoint for evaluating interventions for wound healing. The great heterogeneity of wounds makes it difficult to match groups, and this is only possible with multivariate stratification and/or very large numbers of subjects. The substantial time taken for wounds to heal necessitates a very lengthy study. Consequently, high quality randomised controlled trials demonstrating an effect of an intervention to a satisfactory level of statistical significance and with a satisfactory level of generalisability are extremely rare. This study determines that the healing of venous leg ulcers receiving multi‐component compression bandaging follows a linear trajectory over a 4‐week period, as measured by gross area healed, percentage area healed, and advance of the wound margin. The linear trajectories of these surrogates make it possible to identify an acceleration in healing resulting from an intervention, and allows self‐controlled or crossover designs with attendant advantages of statistical power and speed. Of the metrics investigated, wound margin advance was the most linear, and was also independent of initial ulcer size.     

The knowledge level and precautionary measures taken by older adults during the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong

The study aims to examine the knowledge and the practice of the precautionary measures taken by older adults in Hong Kong against the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Overall, more than half the participants responded correctly that droplet transmission is one of the main transmission routes of SARS. Those who received formal education demonstrated that they acquired greater knowledge of the sources and precautionary measures for SARS. The types of precautionary measures used and the factors affecting their behaviours were discussed. The results of the study could help the health-care professionals develop appropriate health promotion and disease prevention programmes for older adults.     

Intermetallics Formation during Solidification of Al-Si-Cu-Mg Cast Alloys

The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of iron, manganese, copper and magnesium on the microstructural characteristics of Al-11%Si-2%Cu-Mg-based alloy referred to as 396 under different working conditions. The results show that strontium (Sr) has high affinity to react with magnesium (Mg), resulting in reduced effectiveness as eutectic silicon modifier or age hardening agent. In addition, Sr alters the sequence of the precipitation of the α-AlFeMnSi phase from post-eutectic to pro-eutectic which would harden the soft α-Aluminum matrix. The mechanism is still under investigation. The interactions between iron (Fe) and Mg and Sr-Mg result in the formation of serval dissolvable intermetallics during the solutionizing treatment such as β-AlFeSi, π-AlFeMgSi and Q-AlMgSiCu phases. The study also emphasizes the role of modification and grain refining as well as intermetallics in porosity formation and hardness of samples aged in the temperature range 155–240 °C.     

Circadian patterns of serotonin (5-HT) accumulation after pargyline treatment in the rat hypothalamus during development

The purpose of this study was to determine if developmental changes in serotonin (5-HT) synthesis occur during maturation of the 5-HT circadian rhythm in the rat hypothalamus of 10- to 35-day-old rats. Pargyline (75 mg/kg, s.c.), a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, was administered 30 min prior to decapitation. Hypothalamic 5-HT concentrations after pargyline treatment were measured at six time points over a 24-hr interval in male and female rat pups at 10, 20, 30 and 35 days of age. Daily fluctuations in hypothalamic 5-HT accumulation were detectable as early as 10 days of age in rats of both sexes. Since the influence of MAO on hypothalamic 5-HT concentrations was eliminated by pargyline treatment, the findings suggest that changes in tryptophan hydroxylase activity contribute significantly to daily and age-related patterns of 5-HT accumulation in the rat hypothalamus during development. Circadian rhythms in hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) also occurred during development; however, sex differences were not detected for these biogenic amines. Since catecholamine catabolism is not exclusively mediated by MAO, our findings are insufficient to conclude whether or not sex differences actually exist in patterns of these monoamines.     

Effects of experimental xylitol varnishes and solutions on bovine enamel erosion in vitro

This in vitro study aimed to analyze the effects of application of xylitol varnishes and solutions to protect against enamel erosion. Twelve bovine enamel specimens were pre-treated with 5% NaF-Duraphat varnish, 10% xylitol varnish, 20% xylitol varnish, placebo varnish, 5% NaF solution, 10% xylitol solution or 20% xylitol solution. The varnishes and solutions were applied for 6 h and 1 min, respectively. Controls remained untreated (n = 12). Specimens were then subjected to erosive demineralization (Coca-Cola, 4 × 90 s/d) and remineralization (artificial saliva, 2 h) cycling for 10 days. After 5 days, the varnishes and solutions were reapplied. After reapplication, two specimens per group were analyzed by SEM. Enamel loss was measured profilometrically after the 5th and 10th days. Data were then analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test (n = 10, P < 0.05). After the 5th day, all varnishes and 20% xylitol solution significantly reduced the enamel loss when compared to the placebo varnish/control. After 10 days of erosive pH cycling, both xylitol varnishes and solutions significantly reduced the enamel erosion when compared with the control. However, 10% xylitol solution produced a smooth layer on eroded enamel and significantly reduced the enamel erosion when compared to the placebo varnish/control. Xylitol thus appears to be a good option to partially reduce enamel erosion.