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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
8509947 Expression of cell adhesion molecules in the salivary and lacrimal glands of Sjogren's syn 1993 We attempted to determine whether cell adhesion molecules, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin (endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1; ELAM-1), are involved in the lymphoid cell infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) patients. Both immunohistochemical analysis and the reverse-transcripts polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to analyze the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, ELAM-1, very late antigen 4 (VLA-4 [alpha 4,beta 1]), lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta). Immunohistochemical analysis of salivary gland biopsies from SS patients showed a marked expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in the venules surrounded by infiltrated CD4+ CD45RO+ T cells. E-selectin was expressed on vascular endothelium with weak intensity. Increased levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, IFN-gamma, and IL-1 beta mRNA were demonstrated by RT-PCR, whereas E-selectin mRNA were weakly expressed in SS lacrimal and salivary gland tissues. This is in contrast with strong expression of ELAM-1 in IL-1 beta-stimulated human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. Cytokine-mediated up-regulation of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 that facilitates the recruitment of VLA-4 and LFA-1 expressing T cells might contribute to lymphoid cell infiltration in the salivary and lacrimal glands in SS.
7699688 Peripheral blood and synovial fluid mononuclear cell phenotypes in lentivirus induced arth 1995 Jan OBJECTIVE: To identify the phenotypes and activation status of peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) mononuclear cells associated with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) induced arthritis in goats. METHODS: PB and SF mononuclear cells from 8 goats chronically infected with CAEV and 2 mock-infected goats were phenotyped by single immunofluorescence flow cytometry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (Mab) to caprine leukocyte differentiation molecules. The activation status of mononuclear cell subsets was evaluated by dual immunofluorescence flow cytometry using Mab to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and the interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R). RESULTS: Three CAEV infected goats had chronic progressive arthritis, clinically evident by periarticular swelling of carpal joints with excessive SF containing inflammatory cells and radiographic changes indicating soft tissue swelling and erosion of articular surfaces. The other 5 infected goats and 2 mock-infected control goats did not exhibit criteria of arthritis. The composition of PB mononuclear cells (11.3 +/- 5.0% monocytes, 21.1 +/- 4.7% B cells, 29.6 +/- 5.4% CD4+ cells, 15.2 +/- 6.1% CD8+ cells, and 9.7 +/- 3.9% gamma delta T cells) was not significantly different between mock-infected and CAEV infected goats. In contrast, cells within the SF of arthritic carpal joints consisted of 71.9 +/- 7.9% CD8+ T cells, 13.3 +/- 5.9% CD4+ T cells and < 2% B cells. The proportions of SF macrophages (7.8 +/- 5.2%) and gamma delta T cells (6.5 +/- 1.3%) were not significantly different from PB. All SF mononuclear cells were activated with respect to class II determinants orthologous to HLA-DR, DP and DQ. IL-2R expression by CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in SF was reduced compared to PB. CONCLUSION: Lymphocytes infiltrating the SF of arthritic carpal joints of CAEV infected goats consisted of a predominant subset of class II activated CD8+ T lymphocytes and a minority population of CD4+ T lymphocytes, both of which express very little IL-2R. These results parallel previous reports of the phenotypes and activation status of mononuclear cells in rheumatoid SF. A potential connection between T lymphocyte subset reactivity to CAEV and immunopathogenesis of arthritis is suggested.
7706741 Phospholipase A2-activating protein induces the synthesis of IL-1 and TNF in human monocyt 1995 Apr 15 Phospholipase A2-activating protein (PLAP) is an important mediator of eicosanoid generation. PLAP can also be found in high concentrations in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and injection of PLAP into animal joints results in an inflammatory, rheumatoid-like lesion. We have demonstrated previously that TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta stimulate formation of PLAP before phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme activation and production of eicosanoids. To further explore the mechanisms found in the inflammatory response, we examined the ability of PLAP to stimulate release of TNF and IL-1 from human peripheral blood monocytes. TNF and IL-1 protein levels were measured by ELISA, and IL-1 and TNF mRNA were determined by Northern blotting. PLAP, PLAP peptide, and melittin, a bee venom PLA2 activator with homology with PLAP, all increased IL-1 and TNF production in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Heat-denatured PLAP and actin (an irrelevant protein) failed to exert this effect. PLAP stimulation of TNF and IL-1 could be enhanced with co-treatment of cells with free fatty acids, such as arachidonic or linoleic acid, but it was not blocked completely by PLA2 inhibitors. These results demonstrate not only that synthesis of PLAP can be stimulated by cytokines, but also that PLAP may regulate cytokine synthesis and thus perpetuate an immune or inflammatory response.
8237337 Hydroxyapatite ceramic coating for bone implant fixation. Mechanical and histological stud 1993 The success of bone ingrowth into porous coated implants depends on several factors which can be separated into five main groups: implant related factors, such as design of implant, surface structure and pore characteristics. status of host bone bed, such as underlying disease (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis), available bone stock, use of drugs and surgical technique. mechanical stabilization and loading conditions applied on the implant. adjuvant therapies such as bone grafting and HA coating which might enhance the amount of bone ingrowth. remodeling of periprosthetic bone. Once bone ingrowth has occurred, maintenance of bony anchorage depends on bone remodeling at the interface. The present series of studies were performed in order to investigate the effect of some of these factors on bone ingrowth in relation to hydroxyapatite (HA) and titanium alloy (Ti) coating when subjected to pathological and mechanical conditions mimicking the clinical situation. HA- and Ti-coated implants were inserted into the femoral condyles of mature dogs. The observation period ranged from 4 to 16 weeks, and the results were evaluated by mechanical push-out testing, histomorphometric analysis, polarized light microscopy, UV fluorescence microscopy, collagen analysis and transmission electron microscopy (microanalysis). There were no complications related to the operative procedures and all dogs were terminated according to the original time schedule. Host bone related factors were studied in the initial experiments. First, the effect of a gap between bone and implant was studied and compared with press-fit insertion. The HA-coating yielded superior effect on bone ingrowth compared to Ti in situations where the implant was surrounded by a gap and also where the implants were inserted in press-fit. Gaps of 1 mm and 2 mm around the implant were bridged by bone around HA implants whereas significantly less amounts of bone filled the gap around Ti implants. The gap-healing capacity of bone was increased even at a relatively great distance (400 microns) from the HA surface. This finding indicates that the osteoconductive effect of HA is not limited to the bone forming capacity on the surface of the implant. A positive gradient of newly formed bone was found towards the HA-coating, this gradient not being found towards the Ti-coating. In order to investigate the significance of arthritic bone changes (osteopenia) on fixation of porous coated implants we adopted the Carragheenin-induced gonarthritis model resulting in substantial bone loss as determined by CT-scanning.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
7514159 Protective effects of D-penicillamine and a thiazole derivative, SM-8849, on pristane-indu 1994 Feb To evaluate the antiarthritic properties of a novel thiazole derivative, the drugs SM-8849, D-penicillamine and indomethacin were administered to pristane-injected DBA/1 mice. The mice were treated daily with the agents for 32 weeks, starting from the day of the pristane injection. Treatment with SM-8849 (50 mg/kg) resulted in an amelioration of arthritic disease, as assessed by clinical, radiographic, and histologic examinations. Similar results were obtained in mice treated with 50 mg/kg D-penicillamine, although this disease modifying antirheumatic drug was slightly less effective than the same dose of SM-8849. In contrast, indomethacin at the maximum tolerated dose of 2 mg/kg did not alter the course of the disease. SM-8849 and D-penicillamine were also shown to reduce serum levels of rheumatoid factors and the acute-phase reactant, serum amyloid P component. Indomethacin failed to affect either parameter. Flow cytometric analysis revealed an elevation in the T-cell population that expressed CD44, a marker of murine memory T-cells, in spleens from pristane-injected mice. SM-8849, but not D-penicillamine, prevented the increase in this cell population. These results led us to conclude that pristine-induced arthritis was a useful model for the evaluation of antirheumatic agents, in that using this model, we were able to distinguish disease modifying antirheumatic drugs from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Our findings also indicate that SM-8849 shows antiarthritic activity, with a unique mechanism of action, differing from that of D-penicillamine.
8937338 Paravertebral muscles in disease of the cervical spine. 1996 Nov OBJECTIVES: Cervical spine disorders are common in the older population. The paravertebral muscles are essential to the support and stabilisation of the cervical spine but have been little studied. The aim was to determine whether pathological changes develop in these muscles in patients with severe cervical spine disease, which, if present, might contribute to the pathogenesis and symptomatology of their disorder. METHODS: Open biopsies of superficial and deep paravertebral muscles were obtained during the course of surgical procedures to alleviate cervical myelopathy. Most of these patients had cervical spondylosis or rheumatoid arthritis involving the cervical spine. The biopsies were compared with muscle obtained at necropsy from patients without a history of cervical spine or neuromuscular disorder. RESULTS: Muscle from both the study and control groups showed a similar range and severity of abnormalities. In several patients, grouped fibre atrophy suggested chronic partial denervation. Most biopsies showed type 1 fibre predominance and selective type 2 fibre atrophy. Ragged red fibres were a frequent finding and electron microscopy disclosed accumulations of mitochondria, a small proportion of which contained rounded, or longitudinally oriented, single osmiophilic inclusions. Fibres containing core-like areas were also frequent. These pathological features were seen with increasing severity and frequency with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: The paravertebral cervical muscles develop pathological abnormalities with increasing age with both neurogenic and myopathic features, the pathogenesis of which is probably multifactorial. Such a muscle disorder would be expected to be accompanied by functional impairment which may contribute to the development and symptomatology of cervical spine disease with increasing age.
8936008 Prolonged fever in children. 1996 Jan During a four-year period, 86 children with fever lasting for at least 6 days without diagnosis at admission after initial physical examination and preliminary laboratory tests were included in a retrospective analysis. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 16 years, and there were 55 males and 31 females. Bacterial infections occurred in 19 patients (22%), viral infections in 17 (20%), mycoplasmal infections in 3 and malaria in 1. Collagen vascular diseases were diagnosed in 13 children (15%), including 7 juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and 5 systemic lupus erythematosus. Thirteen children (15%) had neoplastic or hematological diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and neuroblastoma. The fevers of the other 14 patients (16%) were attributed to central fever. The overall diagnostic rate was 98%. Twenty-two children had a poor outcome, including 6 children with collagen vascular diseases and 12 with neoplasms. Diagnoses were made mainly through a complete medical history, meticulous physical examination, regular laboratory tests, and an observation of clinical course. Invasive tissue studies can be fruitful when used appropriately and should be considered for specific indication only.
8740816 Antibodies of type II collagen and immune complexes in Menière's disease. 1996 In a previous study, we showed that endolymphatic hydrops was induced in 36% of guinea pigs immunized with type II collagen and that dominant negative summating potential (SP) was recorded for these hydropic animals. In the present study, we evaluated the levels of serum antibody to type II collagen and three other immune indexes in patients with Menière's disease, especially those who showed negative SP dominance in ECoG. Twenty-nine Menière's cases, 22 normal volunteers serving as controls, 28 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cases, and 9 patients complaining of vertigo were examined to detect serum immune indexes. Menière's patients exhibited high values of serum anti-type II collagen antibody compared with control subjects. Furthermore, total IgG, C3, anti-type II collagen antibody and CIC were increased with the highest levels being in the RA group, followed by Menière's disease group and then the control group. These results probably reflect the extent of immune reaction development. The immune response may be generalized in RA cases and/or local in Menière's disease. These results suggest the development of certain immune status abnormalities in our cases, which lends support to the idea of immunologic disorder playing a role in the etiology of some cases of Menière's disease.
8615853 Auranofin inhibits the induction of interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha mRN 1995 Nov 27 Gold compounds are widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but their mechanisms of action remain unclear. We demonstrate here that auranofin (AF) (0.1-3 microM), but neither the hydrophilic gold compounds aurothiomalate (ATM) and aurothioglucose nor methotrexate or D-penicillamine, inhibits the induction of interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha mRNA and protein by either zymosan, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or various bacteria in mouse macrophages. The auranofin-mediated inhibition of the induction of TNF-alpha mRNA was stronger than that of interleukin (IL) 1 beta mRNA. AF, but not the other drugs, also inhibited zymosan-induced mobilization of arachidonate. The fact that AF inhibited the induction of mRNA for both these proinflammatory cytokines, irrespective of which stimulus was used, may indicate that it affects some common signal transduction step vital to their induction.
7632383 Curriculum needs in physical medicine and rehabilitation for primary care physicians. Resu 1995 Jul A 45-item survey assessing the need for knowledge and skills in clinical problems commonly encountered in physical medicine and rehabilitation was sent to 300 randomly selected family practitioners in the state of Indiana. The purpose of this survey was to determine the clinical needs self-perception of these physicians to help design a physical medicine and rehabilitation curriculum that would be the most relevant to medical students in light of today's emphasis on primary care. Another purpose of the study was to compare the responses with those of a similar survey done among Ohio general practitioners in 1974. The family physicians gave the highest scores in terms of overall need to those items most frequently encountered in practice, especially musculoskeletal problems. They tended to rank much lower those clinical problems that they typically refer to other specialists for care. This survey and the one in 1974 showed remarkably similar results. Only a few items showed considerable change in their overall rank or need. Carpal tunnel syndrome and prescription of wheelchairs, canes, and assistive devices both rose in importance in this survey. Items that were ranked lower in importance on this survey than in 1974 included juvenile rheumatoid arthritis; the use of modalities, such as ultrasound, diathermy, and paraffin; cardiac rehabilitation; stroke rehabilitation; and chronic lung rehabilitation. Although this self-assessment tool provides pertinent and very useful information regarding curricular needs, it cannot be the only source of information in this regard.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
7571065 [Department of the molecular bases of semiotics]. 1995 May Department of molecular basis of semiotics was organized in 1986. The main task of the department was to work out new approaches in estimation of the state of immune and blood system at the tissue, cell and molecular levels, using biochemical, biophysical and molecular biology techniques. There are several main directions of scientific investigations at the department. Most informational methods were collected in "immunological portrait" for differential diagnostic and complex investigation of the immune system of autoimmune patients. This group of techniques was used to study changes in the immune system of Kievites after the Chernobyl disaster. A decrease of complement and thymic serum activity was detected. Antibodies against nuclear components appeared in 20% of donors. And a higher of circulating immune complex of low molecular weight was observed. Low level of thymic serum activity in blood of autoimmune patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, diabetes, herpes and other depends on the appearance of zinc-independent timuline inhibitor less then 2000 D. Another kind of thymic hormone inhibitors was detected in thymectomized adult mice. Its effect disappears when zinc added in blood rather due to competition for lymphocyte surface receptors timuline and its inactive analogue than other mechanism. Therapeutic effect of UV irradiation of patients' blood was shown to be closely connected with the changes in thymic serum activity in respect to stabilization of thymic hormone/inhibitor ratio. The immunochemical techniques were used to detect and investigate tumor-associated chromatin antigens in human and animal tumor cells. Antigens not found in normal tissues were detected when using rabbit antibodies against chromatin of rat hepatocarcinoma and human colon and carcinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
7569365 [Report of 2 cases with acquired von Willebrand disease and one with acquired hemophilia A 1995 May We report three patients with acquired inhibitors against F VIII:C/F vW:Ag complex. Two patients had acquired hemophilia A. The three patients presented with bleeding diathesis. Case 1 was a 19 years old woman with Graves-Basedow disease; case 2 was a 40 years old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus of four years; and case 3 a 38 years old woman who had had rheumatoid arthritis for five years and was in her 3d month postpartum. The F VIII:C level was below 8 U/dL in all cases. The F vW:Ag, ristocetin cofactor and platelet aggregation with ristocetin were diminished in the two cases with von Willebrand. Inhibitor to F VIII:C was 50, 38 and 20 Bethesda units, respectively, for cases 1, 2 and 3. The three patients showed clinical response to DDAVP and cryoprecipitates with partial response in laboratory tests. All patients responded to corticosteroid treatment, but immunosuppressive treatment was necessary in case 3.
7656461 Joint scintigraphy for quantification of synovitis with 99mTc-labelled human immunoglobuli 1995 Mar OBJECTIVE: This study addressed the following questions: How does 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy compare to physical examination in the detection of synovitis as determined histologically, and is 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy a sensitive detector of histologically documented synovitis activity in the absence of clinically detectable knee joint swelling? METHODS: The results of measuring synovitis activity by physical examination and by scintigraphy with technetium-99m labelled polyclonal human immunoglobulin G (99mTc-IgG) were compared with the results of histological examination of synovial biopsies taken from the knee joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 21), osteoarthritis (n = 9) and various other rheumatic diseases (n = 10). RESULTS: The sensitivity of 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy in detecting synovitis activity, as determined histologically (85%), was higher than the sensitivity of joint swelling (65%). In the absence of clinically detectable knee joint swelling the sensitivity of 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy was 83%. CONCLUSION: This study shows that 99mTc-IgG scintigraphy is a more sensitive method than physical examination in detecting histologically documented synovitis activity.
7837153 Raised agalactosyl IgG and antimycobacterial humoral immunity in Takayasu's arteritis. 1994 Oct OBJECTIVE: Takayasu's arteritis is an inflammatory occlusive disease of the aorta and its main branches of unknown etiology. Some suggested causes include inapparent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or autoimmunity evoked by this organism. We have therefore sought links with mycobacterial disease. METHODS: We assayed the % agalactosyl IgG, antibody to a tuberculosis-specific 38 kDa protein, and antibody to the mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein (HSP), in patients with active or inactive Takayasu's arteritis, in whom the diagnosis of tuberculosis was excluded. The results were compared with findings in tuberculosis (positive controls), normal donors and patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. RESULTS: The % agalactosyl IgG in patients with active arteritis was in the range previously seen only in rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and the mycobacterioses. Similarly, significantly raised antibody to the purified 38-kDa protein of M. tuberculosis, and to the 65-kDa HSP of M. leprae, was found in 78% of patients with Takayasu's arteritis, and the levels were higher in those with active disease. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that Takayasu's arteritis particularly clearly illustrates the occasional relationship between mycobacteria and diseases of superficially autoimmune pathogenesis.
8005511 Effect of reactive oxygen species on the biosynthesis and structure of newly synthesized p 1994 Feb The effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by a xanthine oxidase hypoxanthine system (mainly H2O2) on proteoglycan (PG) metabolism and structure was investigated in vitro, using cell monolayers of cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes and purified resident and newly synthesized proteoglycans. It was shown that ROS generated in this system frequently stimulate (at low concentrations), and consistently inhibit (at higher concentrations), the incorporation of 35SO4 and 3H-glucosamine into PG molecules synthesized by cultured chondrocytes. The inhibition of isotopes' incorporation at higher enzyme concentrations was suppressed completely by heating xanthine oxidase and allopurinol with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. ROS at high concentration also inhibited 3H-uridine incorporation but had no effect on 35SO4 and 3H-uridine uptake by the cells. They also alter hyaluronan (HA) and PG monomers by fragmenting the core protein moiety and destroying the hyaluronic acid binding region. Altered PG monomers do not interact with HA to form complexes, but fragmented HA still retain a significant PG monomer-binding capacity. PG-HA complexes are easily and irreversibly destroyed by ROS. These results suggest that ROS may at low fluxes stimulate PG-synthesis under physiological conditions and alter cartilage metabolism and structure in conditions where they are overproduced, such as in rheumatoid arthritis, and in hemochromatosis and other iron storage diseases.
7906453 Chloroquine phosphate: a long-term follow-up of drug concentrations in skin suction bliste 1993 Dec Chloroquine is known to bind strongly to melanin and is accumulated in the skin. In dermatology, the drug is mainly used to treat photosensitivity disorders, but it has also been reported to cause sun sensitivity, especially in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study the concentrations of chloroquine phosphate in plasma and skin suction blister fluid (interstitial fluid in the skin) from 16 patients were studied by HPLC at steady-state (after 2 months' ingestion of 250 mg of the drug daily) and 2, 4 and 6-7 months after cessation of therapy. At steady-state the concentrations were similar in the two compartments, whereas after discontinuation the drug remained much longer in the skin than in the plasma. In tests using cow's eye melanin in vitro, UV irradiation failed to interact with the binding of chloroquine to melanin. It is speculated that the prolonged storage of the drug in the skin could be of importance for its therapeutic as well as adverse effects.
8371500 [Anti-endothelial cell antibodies]. 1993 Aug Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) are demonstrated in connective tissue diseases (CTD) such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), but their role in the pathogenesis of CTD is unknown. Sera from 33 patients with SLE, 10 patients with PSS, 10 patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis, 10 patients with mixed connective tissue diseases, 6 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 6 patients with malignant RA and 22 normal controls were examined for IgG-AECA and IgM-AECA by cellular ELISA method using cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Each patient group except RA had significantly elevated levels of both IgG-AECA and IgM-AECA compared with that of normal controls. Furthermore, the possible relationship of AECA to clinical and laboratory findings in 28 patients with active SLE was analysed. The levels of both IgG-AECA and IgM-AECA in patients with either pulmonary hypertension (PH) or digital ulcer were significantly increased compared with those in patients without such abnormalities. IgG-AECA levels in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon and IgM-AECA levels in patients with serositis were significantly increased compared with those in patients without such abnormalities. PH and digital ulcer result from vasculitis and PH in SLE is reported to be associated with Raynaud's phenomenon, digital ulcer and serositis. These results suggest that AECA might play an important role in the pathogenesis of vasculitis and vascular injury in these organs. Further studies are required to characterize the nature of endothelial cell antigens with which AECA react and the role of AECA in vascular injury.
8296078 [Correlation between serum globulin levels and hepatitis C virus antibody]. 1993 Jul BACKGROUND: some studies have suggested that the elevation of serum globulins in patients with chronic autoimmune hepatitis, paraproteinemias and rheumatoid arthritis could affect the determination of false positive hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV). AIM: to study the relationship between positive anti-HCV and serum levels of globulins in patients with liver disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: one hundred thirty one patients with liver disease, 49 alcoholic, 38 cryptogenetic, 17 autoimmune and 27 with other causes, were studies prospectively measuring simultaneously anti-HCV and serum levels of total, gamma and immuno-globulins (IgA, IgG and IgM). These levels were compared between anti-HCV positive and negative groups and correlated with the ratio between serum optical density/cutoff optical density of the anti HCV assay. RESULTS: Twenty eight patients (21.3%) were anti-HCV positive, no differences in serum globulins between these patients and anti-HCV negative patients and no correlations between serum globulins and anti-HCV optical densities were observed. CONCLUSIONS: the hypergamma-globulinemia observed in these patients with liver diseases would not be responsible for positive hepatitis C virus antibodies.
8490615 Using patient reports to assess health-related quality of life after total hip replacement 1993 Feb Data on disease severity, co-morbidity, and process of care were obtained from the medical records of 356 patients without rheumatoid arthritis undergoing a first unilateral total hip replacement at four teaching hospitals in California and Massachusetts. Socio-demographic characteristics, functional status prior and subsequent to hospitalization, and improvement in health status were measured with a patient questionnaire 12 months after discharge. Completed questionnaires were received from 284 patients, a response rate of 79.8%. The questionnaire was acceptable to patients, reliable, and had good construct validity. The data indicate substantial benefits from hip arthroplasty. As expected, pre-surgical functioning was a strong predictor of outcomes 1 year after surgery. Controlling for pre-surgical functioning, age was not related to outcomes.
8116415 Total hip arthroplasty with the porous-coated anatomic (PCA) prosthesis: the acetabular co 1993 Two hundred and twenty-eight uncemented total hip arthroplasties using the porous coated anatomic (PCA) one-piece acetabular component were implanted between June 1984 and July 1987 at two hospitals. The PCA total hip was one of the first hip implants to offer uncemented fixation by bone ingrowth. It was used in the younger patients with adequate bone stock. While most arthroplasties were performed for osteoarthritis, it was also used in rheumatoid arthritis, osteonecrosis and dysplastic hips. Revisions were excluded in this series. Bone grafts (autograft) were used to reconstruct the acetabulum in segmental and contained defects. All components were inserted without cement. In all cases a 32 mm femoral head was used. In cases of protrusion often the deep socket design was inserted for reestablishment of the anatomic hip rotation center. Initial cup stability was aimed for by line to line reaming while rotatory stability was augmented by the presence of two peripheral pegs. A maximum contact with the acetabular rim was always aimed for. A variation of the straight lateral approach was used in all cases. In a prospective study the clinical scores were evaluated. X rays were evaluated on AP and lateral views taken immediately after the operation, at two years and at latest follow-up. Cup migration was recorded when there was a change in cup angle, vertical migration of more than two millimeters. Polyethylene (PE) wear was recorded in case of eccentric localisation of the femoral head in the cup. The relationship between PE wear and cup size was also recorded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)