Coexistencia de artritis séptica y microcristalina: un reto diagnóstico. A propósito de 25 casos

ObjectiveSeptic arthritis is a medical emergency and crystal-induced arthritis is a risk factor for its development. If both occur simultaneously, crystal-induced arthritis may mask the diagnosis of infection and delay antibiotic therapy.MethodRetrospective analysis of patients with coexistence of septic and crystal-induced arthritis. We included only patients with isolation of crystals in synovial fluid analysis and positive culture of synovial fluid and/or blood culture.ResultsA total of 25 patients (17 men and 8 women) with a mean age of 67 years. The most commonly affected joint was the knee. In synovial fluid cytological studies, the most frequently identified crystals were monosodium urate. Risk factors included diabetes and chronic renal failure. The most frequently isolated germs were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (48%), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (12%) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (12%). In all, 36% of subjects required surgical drainage (excluding those caused by M. tuberculosis). Clinical outcome was favorable in 56%, although intercurrent complications were usual (40%). Mortality was 8%.ConclusionsCoexistence of septic and crystal-induced arthritis represents a diagnostic challenge and requires a high index of suspicion. Gout was the most prevalent crystal-induced arthritis. S. aureus was the most commonly causative pathogen, with a high rate of methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection. If treated early, the outcome is usually favorable, making synovial fluid microbiological study imperative.     

Lindane inhibition of [35S]TBPS binding to the GABAA receptor in rat brain.

The inhibition of [³⁵S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([³⁵S]TBPS) binding to the GABA_A receptor by the insecticide γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, lindane, was studied in several brain regions and using different membrane preparation methods, both in vitro and after dosing the animals with the chemical. In the latter studies, the amount of lindane remaining in the membrane suspensions used for binding assays was determined. In vitro data showed values of IC₅₀ from 150 to 1675 nM, varying in function of the membrane preparation method used. This may account for the discrepancies in IC₅₀ values found in the literature. IC₅₀ values within the range of 150–250 nM were determined using extensively washed membranes from several brain regions, so no evidence arose for brain regional differences in the affinity of lindane for the TBPS binding site. After different schedules of acute treatment with lindane, we found a manifest relationship between the extent of the observable inhibition of [³⁵S]TBPS binding and the lindane amount remaining in the membrane suspensions used for binding assays. This relationship was in good agreement with the in vitro data, so no support for an in vivo acute regulation of the binding site was obtained.     

伽玛刀治疗听神经瘤(附98例分析)

目的 评价伽玛刀治疗听神经的效果。方法 应用OUR旋转式伽玛刀治疗听神经98例。肿瘤直径512～29．7min．平均18.8mm。采用多个放射中心联合照射，周边等剂量曲线为45％-70％，边缘剂量10-13Gy。结果 81例获14。84个月随访，平均39个月。MRI示41例（50．6％）肿瘤缩小，38例（46.9％）无变化，2例（2．5％）增大；25例（30.9％）肿瘤中心失增强。无面瘫和面部麻木，听力保留率59.2％。结论 伽玛刀对听神经瘤有较高的肿瘤控制率，并能保留有用听力，对面神经、三又神经损伤小，是小至中等大小听神经瘤可供选择的治疗方法，及术后残余和复发肿瘤的重要辅助治疗手段。     

Inflammatory regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling in calcific aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Calcific aortic stenosis (AS), the most frequent heart valve disorder in developed countries, leads to the calcification and fibrous thickening of the valve. While several studies have addressed the process of valvular calcification, the molecular pathomechanisms of the extensive matrix remodeling remain unclear. Because inflammation is present in stenotic valves, we hypothesized that the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) might influence cell proliferation and regulate the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)--enzymes that are thought to be involved in calcific AS. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry for leukocytes, TNFalpha, MMP-1, and the endogenous MMP inhibitor tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 was performed on human stenotic (n = 19) and control (n = 8) valves. Primary cultures of human aortic valve myofibroblasts were incubated with and without TNFalpha, and cell proliferation was assessed. The expression and activation of MMP-1 were detected by Western blotting and a specific MMP-1 activity assay. RESULTS: Control valves showed scattered macrophages and low expression of TNFalpha, MMP-1, and TIMP-1. In stenotic valves, leukocyte infiltration and a strong, colocalized expression of TNFalpha and MMP-1 were present, while TIMP-1 remained unchanged. Double-label immunofluorescence localized TNFalpha mainly to macrophages. In cultured human aortic valve myofibroblasts, TNFalpha stimulated proliferation and induced a time-dependent increase in MMP-1 expression and activation, while TIMP-1 remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that matrix remodeling in calcific AS involves the expression and activation of MMPs. Activated leukocytes, by the secretion of TNFalpha, may stimulate valvular myofibroblasts to proliferate and express MMPs, thus regulating actively the matrix remodeling in calcific AS.     

Primary Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Spain: First Report of the National Registry in Children and Adults

The Spanish Registry for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (REDIP) was organized in 1993. One thousand sixty-nine cases of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) were registered in patients diagnosed between January 1980 and December 1995. PID diagnosis was made according to the World Health Organization criteria. The most frequent disorders were IgA deficiency (n = 394) and common variable immunodeficiency (n = 213), followed by severe combined immunodeficiency (n = 61), C1 inhibitor deficiency (n = 52), X-Iinked agammaglobulinemia (n = 49), IgG subclass deficiency (n = 48), and chronic granulomatous disease (n = 32). A comparative study between REDIP and data recently obtained from the European registry (ESID Report, 1995) revealed important differences between phagocytic disorders and complement deficiencies reported in both registries, 4.9 vs 8.7 and 6.0 vs 3.6, while percentages of predominantly antibody deficiencies and T cell and combined deficiencies concurred with those reported in the European registry, 69.3 vs 64.7 and 14.7 vs 20.2, respectively. The heterogeneous nature of the geographical distribution of cases submitted may indicate underdiagnosis of PID in some country areas; surprisingly, the interval between the onset of clinical symptoms and diagnosis was significant, even in immunodeficiency diseases, such as IgA deficiency, which are easy to diagnose.     

Nuclear suppressors of the mitochondrial mutation oxi1-V25 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary Ten nuclear suppressors (nam mutations) of the mitochondrial oxi1-V25 ochre mutation are characterized. They restore to some extent the functional form of cytochrome oxidase, as judged by the results of growth tests, cytochrome spectra, cytochrome oxidase activities, and electrophoresis of the products of mitochondrial translation. The nam mutants can suppress some mit ^– mutations mapping in four mitochondrial genes. They act on a number of chain-terminating mit ^– mutations. When grown on glycerol medium some double mutants nam _x-V25 show an increased sensitivity to paromomycin, while the growth of others is stimulated by the drug. The nam mutants are probably omnipotent suppressors resulting from mutations in nuclear gene(s) specifying mitoribosomal protein(s).     

复方甘草酸苷对抗结核药物性肝损害的疗效观察

目的观察复方甘草酸苷对抗结核化疗而引起的药物性肝损害的疗效。方法87例初治菌阳肺结核患者随机分为观察组和对照组,均应用“2H3R323E3（S3）／4H3R3”方案抗结核化疗,观察组加用复方甘草酸苷,对照组加用肝泰乐。结果观察组在肝功能改善方面优于对照组（P〈0．05）;观察组与对照组总有效率分别89．4％、67．5％、（P〈0．01）。结论复方甘草酸苷可显著降低初治菌阳肺结核患者的抗结核药物性肝损害,减少因抗结核药所致肝损害而造成的不规则化疗。     

血清戊型肝炎抗体检测的比较研究

目的评价戊型肝炎抗HEV E2 IgM、IgG酶联免疫试剂(捕获法)在戊型肝炎诊断中的意义。方法对226例肝病患者及50例健康体检者进行抗HEV E2 IgM、IgG检测,同时对226例患者进行上海科华抗HEV IgM、IgG试剂平行检测。结果抗HEV E2 IgM ELISA试剂在226例肝病患者中检出43例阳性,阳性率为19.0%。上海科华试剂在226例肝病患者中检出45例抗HEV-IgM阳性和/或抗HEV-IgG阳性,阳性率为19.9%,与抗HEV E2 IgM ELISA试剂检测结果相符,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。抗HEVE2IgM阴性、抗HEV IgG阳性的99例临床诊断考虑戊型肝炎既往感染病例中,上海科华试剂检出16例抗HEV IgG阳性,占16.2%。结论抗HEV E2 IgM ELISA试剂用于戊型肝炎急性感染的检测灵敏准确,是一个较好的HEV近期感染指标。万泰抗HEVIgG试剂在戊型肝炎既往感染的诊断上具有准确、敏感的优势。     

灼伤病人外周血IL—6、TNF的水平与休克相互关系的研究 

采用Ｂ９细胞增殖的ＭＴＴ法及Ｌ９２９细胞结晶紫比法，对１０例Ⅱ度以上的灼伤病人检测４个不同时期外周血ＩＬ—６、ＴＮＦ含量。结果表明，正常人血清中ＩＬ—６、ＴＮＦ含量＜１０ｋＵ／Ｌ（１２例），与灼伤病人区别明显（Ｐ＜０．０１）。灼伤病人外周血ＩＬ—６、ＴＮＦ的水平与灼伤的面积、严重程度、临床分型以及休克发生发展有密切的相关性，而ＩＬ—６、ＴＮＦ含量变化早于休克的发生，其变化有良好的规律性．提示外周血ＩＬ—６、ＴＮＦ含量变化可作为判断灼伤休克的一个指标。