Support as a crucial predictor of good compliance of adolescents with a chronic disease

The purpose of this study was to describe the factors that predict compliance among adolescents with a chronic illness. The data were collected by questionnaires from adolescents with asthma, epilepsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Groups of 300 adolescents with these illnesses were selected from the Finnish Social Insurance Institution's register, giving a total study series of 1200 individuals. The final response percentage was 88% (n = 1061). The data were analysed with the SPSS software. Logistic regression was used to indicate the predictors of good compliance. The compliance of adolescents with a chronic disease was predicted on the basis of support from parents, nurses, physicians and friends, as well as motivation, energy and willpower. The most powerful predictor was support from nurses. The likelihood of adolescents supported by nurses complying with health regimens was 7.28-fold compared to the adolescents who did not receive support from nurses. The next powerful predictor was energy and willpower. Adolescents who had the energy and willpower to take care of themselves complied with health regimens with a 6.69-fold likelihood compared to the adolescents who did not have energy and willpower. Adolescents who had good motivation were 5.28 times more likely to comply than the adolescents who did not have motivation. Support from parents, physicians and friends similarly predicted good compliance with health regimens.     

Evaluation of Carboxymethylpullulan as a Novel Carrier for Targeting Immune Tissues

Purpose. To demonstrate the potential of carboxymethylpullulan (CMPul) as a carrier for targeting immune tissues, and to find whether immune tissues could be set as the target of an immunosuppressant to treat autoimmune diseases. Methods. The biodistribution of CMPul was investigated to evaluate its potency as a carrier for targeting immune tissues. Furthermore, an immunosuppressant-CMPul conjugate was prepared and its suppressive effect on rat adjuvant arthritis was examined. Results. The disappearance rate of ³H-labeled CMPul from the blood circulation was much slower than that of ³H-labeled pullulan (Pul) after intravenous injection to normal rats. The concentration of ³H-labeled CMPul in the spleen and lymph nodes was much higher than that of ³H-labeled Pul at 24 hours after the injection, whereas the concentration of ³H-labeled CMPul in the liver was significantly lower than that of ³H-labeled Pul. A similar targeting property of ³H-labeled CMPul for these immune tissues was observed in arthritic rats. A conjugate composed of a novel immunosuppressant PA-48153C and CMPul showed a suppressive effect on rat adjuvant arthritis judging from a reduction of the arthritic index and spleen weight and an increase of body weight. Conclusions. CMPul is expected to be a promising carrier for targeting immune tissues with an immunosuppressant to enable treatment of autoimmune diseases.     

HPLC determination of adenosine in human synovial fluid

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the quantitative determination of adenosine in human synovial fluid. The method is simple, rapid and, overall, selective. No interference with the components of the biological matrix was observed in these chromatographic conditions. An ODS (250×4.6 mm) 5 μm column was used with an isocratic elution of a phosphate buffer–acetonitrile mobile phase. Detection was carried out on a UV detector at 260 nm. Calibration curve was found to be linear in the 0.7–70 μg ml⁻¹ range. Linear regression analysis of the data demonstrates the efficacy of the method in terms of precision and accuracy. The precision of this method, calculated as the relative standard deviation (RSD) of the recoveries (1.57–2.21%), was excellent. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) and detection (LOD) were respectively 0.7 and 0.2 μg ml⁻¹. The method was applied to some samples of synovial effusion from patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis. The concentrations of adenosine which were found were included in the range of the calibration curve.     

Mineral density and histomorphometric assessment of bone changes in the proximal tibia early after induction of type II collagen-induced arthritis in growing and mature rats

Bone changes in both actively growing (6-week-old) and mature (6-month-old) rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) were investigated in order to clarify the mechanisms of osteoporosis near inflamed joints in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile RA. In female Sprague-Dawley rats, the proximal tibiae from the CIA and control groups early after immunization, when any influence of immobilization due to joint pain and swelling is minimal, were studied using dual X-ray absorptiometry and histomorphometry after double-labeling with tetracycline. Arthritis developed within 10–14 days after immunization in both growing and mature rats. Physical activity, growth, and body weight continued to resemble that of the control group for at least 10 days. The bone mineral density in the proximal tibia did not differ significantly between the CIA and control groups. In growing rats, a highly significant increase in bone resorption, and decreases in bone formation and trabecular bone volume became evident histomorphometrically before visible signs of arthritis had developed. In mature rats, bone formation was markedly decreased without an increase in bone resorption. The differences in the reaction between growing and mature rats reflected a difference in the number of remodeling sites (units) and an uncoupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. We conclude that osteoporosis near inflamed joints results from an imbalance between bone resorption and formation caused by immune reactions in the CIA rats. Moreover, a decrease in bone formation may, in part, precede the clinical onset of arthritis. Received: December 27, 1999 / Accepted: September 4, 2000     

Early rheumatoid arthritis: can we predict its outcome?

Abstract
The continuing trend towards more aggressive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has seen an increasing interest in the early phase of this chronic inflammatory disease. Optimal benefit from present and emerging therapies is limited by our prognostic abilities during this period. The present review attempts to outline first the many methodological issues encountered in studies of early RA, and second the extent to which each major outcome measure can be explained, both by readily available clinical variables and by HLA-DR genotyping. The evidence supporting the clinical usefulness of genotyping is discussed separately. Based on this information, a clinically appropriate approach to the management of early RA and the identification of patients suitable for experimental therapies is suggested. (Intern Med J 2001; 31: 168–180)     

幼年特发性关节炎229例的诊断和分型

目的了解我国北方地区幼年特发性关节炎（JIA）各型发病比率,对JIA的诊断和分类标准使用提供参考意见。方法对2000年1月-2001年12月本院住院的慢性关节炎患儿,用2004年修订的JIA分类标准进行回顾性分析。结果229例中以JIA分类标准分析诊断成立者196例。JIA 196例中全身型55例（28%）;少关节型21例（10.7%）;多关节型11例（5.6%）,其中类风湿因子（RF）阳性3例,RF阴性8例;与附着点炎性反应相关关节炎（ERA）106例（54%）;未分类3例（1.5%）;未见到银屑病性关节炎,无少关节扩展型。结论我国北方地区JIA全身型、ERA发病比率明显高于国外,而少关节型比率较国外明显降低,多关节型略少于国外。JIA诊断分类标准优于幼年类风湿关节炎。     

中医药为主长期治疗类风湿性关节炎的探讨——附82例临床分析

分析了８２例自愿接受中医药中长期治疗（３个月～４年）的“类风关”病例。结果表明,运用中医药为主治疗“类风关”,既可控制病情活动,亦可稳定病情,减少复发。治疗方法,主张病情活动期以中药汤剂辨证治疗配合外治等,病情相对缓解期应坚持中成药的辨证治疗。文章还叙及具体治法及治疗中应注意的几个问题。     

Galanin influences the mechanosensitivity of sensory endings in the rat knee joint

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of galanin on group III and IV afferent nerve fibres (n = 53) innervating normal and acutely inflamed knee joints in rats. They responded to local mechanical stimulation, movements of the joint and i.a. injections of KCl close to the joint. Single i.a. bolus injections of galanin (0.1 mM, 0.2 mL) caused no direct responses of the units. In normal and acutely inflamed joints, about half of the units did not change the responses to knee joint rotation. A significant reduction of the responses to noxious movements was found in approximately 40% of the units reaching a mean value of 57% in normal joints and 70% in inflamed joints compared with control movements. In approximately 10% the responses increased to 143% in normal joints and 120% in inflamed joints. Injection of a galanin receptor antagonist (M35) doubled the responses to noxious movements in 36% of the units in normal joints and reduced it in 18% to 86% of the control movements, indicating a tonic release and influence on the mechanosensitivity of a proportion of primary afferents by galanin. In conclusion, these data further support the hypothesis that the mechanosensitivity of fine afferent nerve fibres is regulated by a mixture of different substances being released into the innervated tissue. Besides the action of several pro-inflammatory peptides there seems to exist a tonic inhibitory system.     

托珠单抗治疗12例难治性全身型幼年特发性关节炎的临床疗效

目的：探讨托珠单抗治疗难治性全身型幼年特发性关节炎的临床疗效和不良反应。方法：选取2016年9月至2017年5月湖南省儿童医院肾脏风湿科收治的难治性全身型幼年特发性关节炎患儿12例进行前瞻性自身病例对照研究。入组患儿均给予托珠单抗治疗（每次8 mg/kg或12 mg/kg,每2周静脉滴注1次）,比较治疗前后血白细胞总数（WBC）、红细胞沉降率（ESR）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、血清铁蛋白（SF）、白介素-6（IL-6）水平及激素用量并记录患儿治疗前后症状、体征的变化情况。结果：共入组患儿12例,所有患儿给予托珠单抗前均有中等热度以上发热,在应用托珠单抗24~48 h后体温恢复正常,6例有关节症状的患儿治疗12周后2例症状消失,2例症状好转,2例无明显变化。在治疗前无关节症状的患儿中有2例在治疗第12周出现新的关节症状。4例患儿治疗前有皮疹,在治疗24~48 h后皮疹均消失且未反复出现。与治疗前相比,治疗12周后血白细胞、红细胞沉降率、C反应蛋白、血清铁蛋白均明显下降,激素用量较治疗前明显减少,白介素6水平治疗前后差异无统计学意义。4例患儿出现转氨酶升高,5例患儿出现中性粒细胞水平下降,2例患儿并发上呼吸道感染2次,所有患儿在治疗期间均无过敏及严重感染等严重不良反应出现。结论：托珠单抗治疗难治性全身型幼年特发性关节炎疗效较好,不良反应发生率低,临床应用较安全。