Polychondritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Case report and review of the literature

Summary We present the case history of a 50-year-old man with seropositive erosive rheumatoid arthritis of 30-years standing who developed polychondritis simultaneously with several extra-articular rheumatoid manifestations, such as anaemia, subcutaneous nodules, pericarditis and episcleritis. The relevant literature is reviewed. Gradually, all symptoms and signs disappeared after start of treatment with 30 mg prednisone and 100 mg azathioprine daily. We suggest that the polychronditis in this patient was also an extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis.     

Urine- and serumβ2-microglobulin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A study of 101 patients without signs of kidney disease

Summary Serum levels and 24-hour urinary excretion of 2-Microglobulin (2-M) was investigated in a group of 101 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), without any other signs of renal disease in past or present, andin a comparable control group. Elevated 24-hour urinary 2-M excretion, due to renal proximal tubules dysfunction, was observed in 19% of the patients and not in the control group. There was a significant correlation with clinical signs of extra-articular RA. It is postulated that the observed increase may be an early symptom of renal involvement in RA. Elevated serum 2 levels, corrected for glomerular filtration rate, were observed in 44% of the RA patients and only in 3% of the control group and correlated with clinical signs of a more severe RA, as well as with increased 24-hour urinary 2-M excretion.     

Articular mobility in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Summary The study was prompted by the suggestion that inflammatory polyarthritis and corticosteroids increase articular mobility. Ninety female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) of whom 85 had polyarthritis and at least 75 of whom had received corticosteroid therapy were studied and compared to an equal number of carefully matched controls. The difference between the number of hypermobile patients [6(7%)] and controls [5(6%)] was not significant. There was also no significant difference when either the pooled mobility scores or the pooled hand scores of the patients and controls were compared. No significant association between articular mobility and either age at onset of disease, duration of disease or corticosteroid therapy was demonstrated. There was a significant association between deformity and duration of disease (p=0.04) but not with mobility score. We conclude that SLE patients do not have a hypermobile tendency and therefore that neither SLE nor corticosteroids predispose to increased articular mobility. There is also no association between articular mobility and deformity.     

Hypophosphorémie compliquée de troubles neurologiques en sortie d’aplasie

We report the case of a 52-year-old woman who developed neurological manifestations secondary to severe hypophosphatemia during hematopoietic reconstitution after induction for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. A high cellular uptake of phosphate may be seen in situations with a rapid cell proliferation such as hematopoietic reconstitution, and phosphatemia should be carefully monitored in such situations.     

Alkylmercurial encephalopathy in the monkey (Saimiri sciureus andMacaca arctoides)

Summary Histopathologic and autoradiographic studies were performed on monkeys of thegenera Saimiri andMacaca after acute and chronic oral exposure to several dosage regimens of methylmercuric chloride (MeHg). Neuropathologic changes were primarily cortical, although subcortical lesions also were observed. Autoradiographic localization of²⁰³Hg was greatest within glial cells (particularly Nissl-plump astrocytes, subependymal glia and Bergmann's glia) and mast cells. High levels of label within normal appearing large neurons (particularly those within Gasserian and dorsal root ganglia) indicate a lower susceptibility of these neurons to the toxic effects of MeHg. Blood and brain levels of mercury correlated well with the degree of neuropathologic change, but individual variations in susceptibility to intoxication also existed.The preparation of this paper was supported, in part, by Grant MH-11752 from the National Institute of Mental Health, Grant GI-30097X from the RANN Program of the National Science Foundation, Grant NS-08048 from the National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Grant RR00658 from the Animal Resources Branch of the National Institute of Health, and in part by a contract with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission at the University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project. U.R. No. 3490-567.In conducting the research described in this report, the investigators adhered to The Guide for The Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prepared by the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources of the National Research Council.     

急性脊髓损伤动物模型的建立与评估

BACKGROUND: There are a variety of methods for modeling spinal cord injury at home and abroad, showing their own advantages and disadvantages, but not yet a kind of objective and standardized model meeting the clinical research. OBJECTIVE:To design a simple impactor used for establishing the spinal cord injury model, then to evaluate the parameters and stability of the Allen’s spinal cord injury model through comparing with the New York University (NYU) impactor established model. METHODS: Female rats were equivalently allotted into five groups: sham-operation group (group A), self-made impactor 5 and 10 cm groups (group B1 and B2) and NYU 1.25 and 2.5 cm groups (group C1 and C2). All groups except group A were subjected to striking at different heights. Behavioral scores were detected at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after modeling. Nissl staining was used to observe the morphological changes after freezing section and semiquantitative analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) At the same time point, the behavioral scores, damaged area ratio of spinal cord and semiquantitative analysis of dorsal horn neurons showed significant differences in the group A compared with the other groups, also between groups B1 and B2, and groups C1 and C2 (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were found between groups B1 and C1, as well as groups B2 and C2 (P > 0.05). (2) In the group A, there was a clear boundary between the grey and white matter in a butterfly shape, numerous neurons with large nucleus and obvious nucleolus, and plaques or tabby of Nissl body appeared in the cytoplasm. In contrast, in the other four groups, there were few neurons, different degrees of Gore focal, swelling, demyelinating, and vacuole of cellula could be found, and Nissl body was fuzzy or disappeared. These results administrate that the self-made impactor can establish different damage degrees of spinal cord inury models, which are close to the NYU-made models. Moreover, it can be helpful for study on spinal cord injury for reasons of good stability, low cost, and operated easily. 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：肾移植;肝移植;移植;心脏移植;组织移植;皮肤移植;皮瓣移植;血管移植;器官移植;组织工程     

AIDS在男性生殖器的常见表现

回顾性分析了１９９４￣１９９６年在莫桑比克马布托中心医院确诊的２７４例人类免疫缺陷病毒（ＨＩＶ）感染的男性患者临床资料，发现１３例（约４．７％）患者具有生殖器病变，包括阴茎Ｋａｐｏｓｉ肉瘤、阴茎尿道恶性淋巴瘤、睾丸肿瘤、睾丸弓形体病、睾丸萎缩、特发性阴囊坏疽等，其中４例（３０．８％）是以生殖器病变为首发表现。认为男性生殖器罕见恶性肿瘤、机会性病原体感染是诊断ＨＩＶ感染和获得性免疫缺乏综合征（ＡＩＤ