Histological and clinical responses of articular cartilage to low-level laser therapy: Experimental study

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of low-level laser irradiation on experimental lesions of articular cartilage. A standard lesion was practised on the femoral trochlea of both hindlimbs of 20 clinically normal Californian rabbits. These animals were divided into two groups of 10 individuals each, depending on the laser equipment used for treatment. Onc group was treated with He-Ne laser (8 J cm^-2, 632.8 nm wavelength) and the other with infra-red (IR) laser (8 J cm^-2, 904 nm wavelength). In both groups, five points of irradiation to the right limb alone were irradiated per session for a total of 13 sessions, applied with an interval of 24 h between sessions. These points were the following: left and right femoral epicondyles, left and right tibial condyles and the centre of articulation. The distance between these points was approximately 1 cm. The untreated left limb was left as a control. During treatment, extension angle and periarticular thickness were considered. At the end of the treatment, samples were collected for histopathologi-cal study and stained with: Haematoxylin-Eosin, PAS and Done. The results show a statistically higher anti-inflammatory capacity of the IR laser (p < 0.0001). The functional recovery was statistically similar for both treatments (p < 0.176). Histological study showed, at the end of the treatment, hyaline cartilage in the IR group, fibrocartilage in the He-Ne group and granulation tissue in the control limbs. Clinical and histological results indicated that this laser treatment had a clear anti-inflammatory effect that provided a fast recuperation and regeneration of the articular cartilage.     

Balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery in 40 cases of giant intracavernous aneurysm: technical aspects,cerebral monitoring,and results

Summary We have studied the results of carotid occlusion in the treatment of giant intracavernous carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms in 40 patients. Clinical, angiographic, Doppler and cerebral blood flow (CBF) criteria for tolerance of occlusion are discussed. The patients had headaches (47.5%), cranial nerve compression (87.5%), decreased visual acuity (20%), ruptured aneurysm (15%) and 5% were asymptomatic. Balloon occlusion tests were performed under light sedation anaesthesia: a successful test required perfect clinical tolerance and adequate angiographic collateral circulation in arterial, parenchymatous, and venous phases. Additional criteria include xenon 133 CBF measurements, and transcranial Doppler sonography of the middle cerebral artery. According to these criteria, 5 patients did not tolerate test occlusion and required an extra-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass. Mean follow-up was 4.7 years. All patients were radiologically cured of their ancurysm, and in 35 the symptoms resolved, although 3 had persistent ocular motor nerve palsies, and in 4 visual defects were unchanged. Complications were 1 permanent and 3 transient neurological deficits. Balloon occlusion of the ICA is an effective, reliable form of treatment for intracavernous giant aneurysm and should replace surgical ligation of the cervical carotid artery. With CBF or Doppler monitoring, the risk of neurological deficit is diminished. EC-IC bypass prior to ICA occlusion is indicated if test occlusion is not tolerated.     

Comparison between Low Frequency Magnetic Field Stimulation and Nerve Growth Factor Treatment of Cultured Chromaffin Cells, on Neurite Growth, Noradrenaline Release, Excitable Properties, and Grafting in Nigrostriatal Lesioned Rats

Adrenal chromaffin cells in vitro respond to nerve growth factor (NGF) by expressing neuronal traits. Low frequency magnetic (LFM) field stimulation, while inducing a variety of effects on several cell types, has never been studied as to its effects on chromaffin cell cultures. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of LFM field stimulation with that of NGF on the morphological phenotype, on noradrenaline (NA) release, and on membrane excitability of cultured chromaffin cells. We also tested the effects of grafting LFM and NGF-treated chromaffin cells into the caudate nucleus of rats with 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the nigrostriatal pathway. The results of this study showed that LFM field stimulation produced neurite growth of cultured chromaffin cells in a manner similar to that of NGF exposure. The combination of the two procedures did not induce changes above those observed by NGF alone. Both NGF- and LFM-treated chromaffin cells released [³H]NA equally in response to a depolarizing concentration of KCl. On the other, Na⁺ current density of LFM field stimulation increased, but to a lesser extent than that seen in NGF-treated cells. In addition both types of cells when transplanted into nigrostriatal-lesioned animals induced a similar decrease in the motor asymmetries produced by the lesion. When NGF- or LFM-treated chromaffin cells where compared to untreated control cells, no significant differences were observed in [³H]NA release, on Na⁺ current densities, or on postgraft motor asymmetries. The results are discussed in terms of the fact that LFM-stimulated cells can be differentiated in a manner similar to NGF-treated cells, by acquiring sympathetic like traits which in turn can diminish motor asymmetries when grafted into nigrostriatal-lesioned rats.     

P01Contact dermatitis from textile colours in three Spanish towns

Objective:  Prevalence of textile dye contact dermatitis (TD‐CD) are lacking in many countries. Our aim is to know the frequency of TD‐CD in three different areas of Spain.
Methods:  100 patients were tested with Spanish standard series and the five most frequent TD in each city. D. Orange 1, D. Orange 3, D. Blue 35, D. Blue 106, D. Blue 124 were included in Murcia and Seville, and the three last and D. Red 1, D. Red 17 in Santiago.
Results:  23/300 (15 women and 8 men) were positives to one or more TD. D. Blue 124 was the most frequent allergen (18/300), followed by D. Blue 106 (17/300). D. Red 1, D. Red 17 and D. Orange 1 were positives in 2/200. D. Orange 3 and D. Blue 35 were positives in 1/200. Eczema was located on hands in 13 cases. Clinical picture was variable. Origin of sensitization was clothing and occupational. Relevance was obtained in 20/23 cases.
Conclusions:  The study confirm an high frequency of disperse dye allergy in Spain with a very different prevalence in the three areas: Seville 14%, Murcia 5% and Santiago 4%, that are probably due to social and cultural factors. We recommend the inclusion of D. Blue 106, D. Blue 124, D. Blue 35, D. Red 1, D. Red 17, D. Orange 1 and D. Orange 3 in standard series in order to detect sensitivity to textile colours that is most frequent than previously suspected.