The RECIST criteria compared to conventional response evaluation after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms

Annals of Nuclear Medicine - The Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) is the most used radiological method for evaluating response after peptide receptor radionuclide therapy...     

C3 activation products, C3 containing immune complexes, the terminal complement complex and native C9 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Complement activation products, C9 and C3-containing circulating immune complexes (CIC), were evaluated in plasma and synovial fluid (SF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis. C3 activation products and the fluid phase terminal complement complex were considerably elevated in SF from RA patients reaching levels five- to eighttimes that in plasma, consistant with a local activation of the whole cascade in the joints. The results emphazise the importance of detecting C3 activation by neoepitope expression instead of single fragment determinations. The concentration of native C9 was lower in synovial fluid compared with plasma, consistant with the excessive local complement activation. Increased CIC levels which correlated with the degree of complement activation were also found in the SF from the RA patients.     

Anogenital bacteriology in non-abused preschool children: a descriptive study of the aerobic genital flora and the isolation of anogenital Gardnerella vaginalis

The purpose of the study is to describe the genital aerobic bacterial flora including Gardnerella vaginalis in girls and the occurrence of anal G. vaginalis in both genders. From a group of 3773 children, 278 (99 boys and 179 girls) with a mean age of 5.63 y (range: 5.13-6.73) were recruited. Inclusion in the study was based on self-selection, whereby parents who did not suspect any occurrence of sexual abuse of their child gave informed consent to participate. Several mechanisms were undertaken to exclude abused children. At least one bacterial species was isolated from the genitals of 59 (33.9%) girls. Most isolates (39 out of 99) were bacteria representing skin flora (staphylococci and coryneform organisms), with viridans streptococci and related organisms as the second most common group of isolates (31 out of 99). S. anginosus was the single most frequent bacterial species identified (17 isolates). Streptococcus pyogenes was isolated from the genitals of two girls, Streptococcus pneumoniae from one girl and Haemophilus influenzae from eight girls. G. vaginalis was not isolated from the genitals in any girl, but the organism was isolated from the anal canal in three children.

Conclusion: A large number of different aerobic organisms were identified from the genital area. G. vaginalis was rare and only isolated from the anal canal.     

Perianal anatomy in non-abused preschool children

The purpose of this study was to describe the normal variation in perianal anatomy in preschool children, selected for non-abuse, and to compare the findings in two examination positions. A letter of invitation was sent to 3773 children, after which 305 children (103 boys and 202 girls) were recruited. Inclusion in the study was based on self-selection, whereby parents who did not suspect any occurrence of sexual abuse of their child gave informed consent to participate. The mean age of the children was 5.63 y (range: 5.13-6.75). An anal examination was performed in the left lateral position (LLP) and the prone knee-chest position (KCP), for approximately 30 s each. A colposcope and a camera were used. All data were systematically analysed for gender differences, and a paired sample test was used to compare findings in LLP and KCP. Venous congestion in LLP and external anal dilatation in both positions were significantly more common in girls, while midline depressions and smooth areas (both positions) were significantly more common in boys. External and total anal dilatation, midline smooth areas and depressions and the occurrence of a prominent anal verge were significantly more common in the KCP. The finding of total anal dilatation was rare. CONCLUSION: We observed several gender and position differences in perianal anatomy, and most of these findings seem to be related to structure and tone in the anal muscles.     

Efficacy and acceptance of two intensified conventional insulin therapy regimens: a long-term cross-over comparison

The efficacy and acceptability of multiple daily insulin injections (three preprandial injections of short-acting insulin (NovoPen) plus once daily extended-acting insulin) were compared with those of twice daily injections of short- and intermediate-acting insulin. Sixteen Type 1 diabetic patients participated in a cross-over study (6-month treatment periods). Total areas under 24-h plasma free insulin curves, assessed at the end of each study period, were not significantly different, but a greater area under this curve was found for the pen-injector regimen from 1200 to 1600 h (150 +/- 15 (SE) vs 106 +/- 7 mU l-1 h, p less than 0.01). Home blood glucose profiles showed significantly lower values with pen-injector therapy after lunch (7.1 +/- 0.6 vs 8.4 +/- 0.4 mmol l-1, p = 0.05) and before and after dinner (6.4 +/- 0.6 vs 8.8 +/- 0.5 mmol l-1, p less than 0.005, and 7.5 +/- 0.7 vs 9.4 +/- 1.1 mmol l-1, p less than 0.05). Mean daily blood glucose concentration was also lower (7.1 +/- 0.4 vs 8.2 +/- 0.5 mmol l-1, p less than 0.05). HbA1, fructosamine, hypoglycaemic reactions, and body weight were not significantly different. Thirteen patients decided to continue with pen-injector therapy at the end of the study.     

Effect of an analgesic drug (paralgin forte) upon laboratory pain under different cognitive manipulations: An experimental study

The pain-reducing effects of paralgin forte (under double-blind conditions) were studied under 3 different experimental conditions: 1) neutral instructions; subjects were given some information about the kind of unpleasant experience/pain involved in the experiment, 2) positive instructions; subjects were informed that the experiment did not involve painful experiences, and 3) negative instructions; subjects were informed that the experiment involved relatively severe pain. Both positive and negative instructions produced significant pain-reducing effects. With regards to paralgin forte, neither pain-reducing effects nor significant differences between paralgin forte and placebo were found. There was no interaction effect between drug and instruction variables. It is concluded that the instruction factors were effective in pain reduction in this experiment.     

L1, a major granulocyte protein: antigenic properties of its subunits

L1, a major granulocyte protein, was purified and analysed by use of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Three subunits were visualized, and they were found to have molecular weights of 12.5 kDa, 13.3 kDa and 8.3 kDa. They were extracted from 2D-gels, and different combinations of subunits and two L1 antisera were analysed by immunodiffusion in agarose gel. The 8.3 kDa polypeptide in combination with one or both of the other polypeptides, gave immunoprecipitation with one of the L1 antisera, while no precipitation occurred when the three polypeptides were tested separately. Neither was there any precipitation when the two heavier polypeptides were tested in combination. By use of another L1 antiserum, all the L1 polypeptides were found to be antigenic and give immunoprecipitations. The L1 protein has a great affinity for calcium, and calcium was necessary for immunoprecipitation with the L1 subunits to occur. Autoradiographs of 2D-PAGE gels with labelled leucocytes visualized the L1 subunits in the same position as the subunits from purified, cold L1, indicating no significant alteration of the L1 protein during the purification procedure.     

Multiple daily insulin injections improve self-confidence

The efficacy and psychosocial effects of multiple daily insulin injections (three preprandial injections of short-acting insulin (NovoPen) and once daily, bedtime extended-acting insulin) were compared with those of twice daily combinations of short- and intermediate-acting insulin, in a randomized crossover study (two 6-month periods), in 16 adult diabetic patients. HbA1 was not significantly different for the two treatment modalities (8.2 +/- 0.4 vs 7.6 +/- 0.4%). With the pen-injector regimen significantly less state anxiety (36.0 +/- 2.5 vs 39.5 +/- 2.7; p less than 0.05) was found than with the conventional syringe regimen. The patients tended to experience a better self-concept as having diabetes (32.0 +/- 2.1 vs 37.7 +/- 3.0; p less than 0.06), as well as less external ('chance') orientation (18.5 +/- 1.2 vs 20.7 +/- 1.6; p = 0.09) with the pen-injector regimen. A subgroup of patients with lower trait anxiety scores experienced less state anxiety during the pen-injector regimen than during twice daily insulin injections (30.6 +/- 2.6 vs 34.3 +/- 2.7; p less than 0.05). However, this subgroup tended to be less positive about injecting insulin during the pen-injector regimen (34.8 +/- 3.6 vs 29.6 +/- 4.0; p less than 0.08). The subgroup with higher trait anxiety scores experienced a better self-concept as having diabetes (35.3 +/- 2.3 vs 40.1 +/- 2.6; p less than 0.05) and a tendency towards less physician orientation (15.8 +/- 1.8 vs 19.6 +/- 2.7; p less than 0.07) with the pen-injector regimen. Thirteen patients continued with the pen-injector regimen.     

A comparison of the effects of flupentixol and relaxation on laboratory pain: An experimental study

The present experiment compared the effects of flupentixol (0.5 mg) and relaxation on acute laboratory pain induced by pressure. Results showed that flupentixol, in general, did not have an analgetic effect, but rather a negative effect. Relaxation with specific training for the pain site did have pain-relieving properties, while an "unspecific relaxation" control procedure did not result in significant pain relief. Possible explanations for the unexpected negative effect of flupentixol are discussed.