Association analysis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis genetic susceptibility factors in Estonian patients

Clinical Rheumatology - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic condition of childhood. Genetic association studies have revealed several JIA susceptibility loci...     

Influence of kyphosis posture on postural control and lower limb mechanical load immediately after stopping walking

[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of joint moment and force for postural control performance after stopping walking under two conditions. [Participants and Methods] A total of 18 healthy males participated in this study. The joint moment and power were compared between the normal and kyphosis postures after stopping walking based on the critical time interval as calculated by stabilogram diffusion analysis. [Results] The polarity of the joint moment in both postures was different in the knee and hip extension–flexion directions, the absolute value being higher in the kyphosis posture than in the normal one. The hip and knee joint powers were negative in the normal posture but positive in the kyphosis posture; these values were higher in the kyphosis posture than the normal one. [Conclusion] The polarity of the joint moment of the hip and knee joints in the direction of flexion and extension differed from the normal one due to the postural changes caused by the kyphosis posture. The postural controls between the two conditions were considered different. The leading limb was thought to be an important braking action in stopping walking.     

Oligodendroglial ganglioglioma

Gangliogliomas are rare tumors of the central nervous system, usually containing neoplastic ganglion cells and astrocytic components. Few cases of ganglioglioma containing only oligodendrocytic tissue have been reported to date. We present a case of a 40-year-old woman with ganglioglioma consisting mostly of oligodendroglial components. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-demarcated cystic lesion with slight perifocal edema in the right parietal lobe. The wall of the cyst was not enhanced after administration of Gd-DTPA contrast media. The mass was totally resected. Histological examination showed a mixture of two distinct components: oligodendroglioma and dysplastic ganglions. The first component was diffusely proliferated cells with round nuclei and perinuclear halo; the second showed marked nucleoli and basophilic cytoplasm containing Nissl bodies. Immunohistochemical study of the oligodendroglial component was positive for OLIG 2 and NKX2.2 but negative for synaptophysin. In addition, LOH of 1p/19q was detected by FISH. Although no adjuvant therapy was carried out, follow-up MRI showed no recurrence of the tumor 41 months after the operation.