C3c and C3d fragments of human C3 bind myeloma IgG1 and IgG3 proteins

Eight human myeloma proteins, two of each IgG subclass, were studied for binding to solid-phase C3c and C3d by the ELISA technique. Myeloma IgG₁κ, IgG₁λ, IgG₃κ and IgG₃λ proteins bound to C3c and C3d, while two IgG₂κ, and two IgG₄κ proteins failed to show significant binding affinity. The results suggest that like C1q, the stable binding sites of C3, located on the C3c and C3d parts of the molecule, have affinity for IgG subclasses 1 and 3.     

Plasma renin substrate and oestrogens in normal pregnancy

Relationship between concentrations of serum oestrogens, plasma renin substrate and plasma renin activity were studied in six women throughout pregnancy. There was a significant positive correlation between serum oestradiol-17β and plasma renin substrate concentrations (r=0.60). Serum oestriol concentrations also correlated significantly with plasma renin substrate concentrations (r=0.68). Correlation coefficients calculated separately for each subject throughout pregnancy were higher than those for the whole group. Also, there was much individual variation in dose-response of serum oestrogens to plasma renin substrate concentrations. There was no significant correlation between serum oestrogens and plasma renin activity.

Our results support the view that oestrogens cause the increase in plasma renin substrate concentration during pregnancy, and emphasize the individual variation in response of renin substrate concentration to serum level of oestrogens.     

Use of prescription drugs in athletes

Although athletes are young and generally healthy, they use a variety of non-doping classified medicines to treat injuries, cure illnesses and obtain a competitive edge. Athletes and sports medicine physicians try to optimize the treatment of symptoms related to extreme training during an elite athlete's active career. According to several studies, the use of antiasthmatic medication is more frequent among elite athletes than in the general population. The type of training and the kind of sport influence the prevalence of asthma. Asthma is most common among those competing in endurance events, such as cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing and long-distance running. Recent studies show that athletes use also NSAIDs and oral antibacterials more commonly than age-matched controls, especially athletes competing in speed and power sports. Inappropriately high doses and concomitant use of several different NSAIDs has been observed. All medicines have adverse effects that may have deleterious effects on elite athletes' performance. Thus, any unnecessary medication use should be minimized in elite athletes. Inhaled beta(2)-agonists may cause tachycardia and muscle tremor, which are especially harmful in events requiring accuracy and a steady hand. In experimental animal models of acute injury, especially selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors have been shown to be detrimental to tissue-level repair. They have been shown to impair mechanical strength return following acute injury to bone, ligament and tendon. This may have clinical implications for future injury susceptibility. However, it should be noted that the current animal studies have limited translation to the clinical setting. Adverse effects related to the CNS and gastrointestinal adverse reactions are commonly reported in connection with NSAID use also in elite athletes. In addition to the potential for adverse effects, recent studies have shown that NSAID use may negatively regulate muscle growth by inhibiting protein synthesis. Physicians and pharmacists taking care of athletes' medication need to be aware of the medicines that an athlete is taking and how those medicines interact with performance, exercise, environment and other medicines. Sport associations should repeatedly monitor not only the use of banned substances, but also the trends of use of legal medicines in athletes. Not only physicians and pharmacists, but also athletes and coaches should be better educated with respect to potential benefits and risks, and how each agent may affect an athlete's performance. The attitudes and beliefs leading to ample use of legal medicines in athletes is an interesting area of future research.     

Objective scar assessment—A new method using standardized digital imaging and spectral modelling

Introduction

Quantitative assessment of scars is needed in clinical practice and in scientific studies. To date, there have been no entirely objective methods available for these purposes. We introduce a new method developed for scar assessment combining standardized digital imaging (SDI) and spectral modelling (SpM). With this method, the estimated concentration changes (ECCs) of haemoglobin and melanin in the scar can be determined quantitatively.

Patient and methods

: In the current study, 22 skin graft donor site (SGDS) wounds were treated with two alternative dressing materials, Suprathel^® and Mepilex Transfer^®, side by side on the same wound. The SGSD scars were assessed using SDI and SpM. The scars were given subjective ratings by three surgeons using the POSAS and the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). The correlations between the ECCs of melanin and haemoglobin and the corresponding subjective ratings were calculated as well as the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) of the subjective ratings.

Results

There was a statistically significant correlation between the ECCs of melanin and haemoglobin and the subjective ratings. A single observer could reliably assess pigmentation with the POSAS scale (ICC = 0.75) but not vascularity (ICC = 0.51). The reliability ratings of the VSS were unacceptably low.

Conclusions

The ECC values of haemoglobin and melanin give accurate documentation of the scar status. The results also show that the subjective ratings in this study were unreliable especially when interfering pigmentation and increased vascularity were both present at the same time.     

Indentation stiffness of repair tissue after autologous chondrocyte transplantation

Our main hypothesis was that indentation stiffness of the repair tissue approaches the values of adjacent cartilage 1 year after autologous chondrocyte transplantation. We also wanted to investigate the differences between osteochondritic lesions and full-thickness lesions. Thirty patients with cartilage lesions were operated on with autologous chondrocyte transplantation. The repair was evaluated arthroscopically, indentation stiffness was measured, and clinical evaluations were done. The stiffness of the repair tissue improved to 62% (mean 2.04 +/- 0.83 N, mean +/- SD) of adjacent cartilage (3.58 +/- 1.04 N). Fifty-three percent of the patients graded their knee as excellent or good and 47% of the patients graded their knee as fair at the followup. In six patients the normalized stiffness was at least 80%, suggesting hyaline-like repair. The indentation stiffness of the osteochondritis dissecans lesion repairs (1.45 +/- 0.46 N; n = 7) was less than that of the nonosteochondritis dissecans lesion repair sites (2.37 +/- 0.72 N; n = 19). Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the cartilage (dGEMRIC) during followup of four patients suggested proteoglycan replenishment, although all grafts showed low indentation values. Low stiffness values may indicate incomplete maturation or predominantly fibrous repair. The indentation analysis showed that the repair tissue stiffness could, in some cases, reach the same level as the adjacent cartilage, but there was a large variation among the grafts.     

Influenza virus infections from 0 to 2 years of age: A birth cohort study

Background/purposeInfluenza vaccine has been recommended in Finland since 2007 for all children of 6–35 months of age and in 2009 for those ≥6 months against pandemic influenza. We investigated the incidence of influenza and vaccine effectiveness in a birth cohort of children in 2008–2011.MethodsWe followed 923 children from birth to 2 years of age for respiratory tract infections. A nasal swab sample for PCR for influenza A and B viruses was taken at the onset of acute respiratory infections. Samples were collected either at the study clinic or at home by parents. Vaccination data was retrieved from the health registries.ResultsVaccination coverage of children aged 6–23 months was 22–47% against seasonal influenza and 80% against the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus in the pandemic season 2009–2010. During 3 influenza seasons, 1607 nasal swab samples were collected. Influenza was confirmed in 56 (6.1%) of 923 children (16 A(H1N1), 14 A(H3N2), and 26 B viruses). The incidence of influenza was 5.1% in 2008–2009, 2.7% in 2009–2010, and 5.0% in 2010–2011. Effectiveness of the adjuvanted vaccine against the pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 was 97% (95% confidence interval, 76–100%). Three children with influenza were hospitalized.ConclusionThe yearly incidence of seasonal influenza was 5% in this cohort of very young children with variable influenza vaccine coverage. Adjuvanted vaccine against the pandemic influenza was highly effective. Both seasonal and pandemic influenza cases were mostly non-severe.     

Drug-eluting stents in acute myocardial infarction: updated meta-analysis of randomized trials

Background

Use of drug-eluting stents in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains an “off label” indication due to concerns regarding their performance in this patient subset.

Methods

We searched Medline, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Internet-based sources of information on clinical trials in cardiology for randomized trials comparing drug-eluting stents with bare-metal stents in patients with AMI. Hazard ratios for the composite of death or recurrent myocardial infarction, (primary safety endpoint), reintervention (primary efficacy endpoint), death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis were calculated performing a meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials with 7,781 patients.

Results

There was no difference in the hazard of death or recurrent myocardial infarction (hazard ratio, 0.91; [95% CI 0.75–1.09]) between patients treated with drug-eluting stents versus patients treated with bare-metal stents. Treatment with drug-eluting stents resulted in a significant reduction in the hazard of reintervention (0.41 [95% CI 0.32–0.52]). The hazards of death (0.90 [95% CI 0.71–1.15]), myocardial infarction (0.81 [95% CI 0.63–1.04]), and stent thrombosis (0.84 [95% CI 0.61–1.17]) were not significantly different between patients treated with drug-eluting stents versus patients treated with bare-metal stents.

Conclusions

Use of drug-eluting stents in patients with AMI is safe and markedly reduces the need for reintervention as compared to bare-metal stents.     

The diagnostic value of video capsule endoscopy

Background and aimsVideo capsule endoscopy (VCE) offers the best means of studying small bowel, but is expensive. We investigated how physicians appraise the value of VCE.MethodsA questionnaire was sent to remitting physicians comprising questions on the value of VCE in altogether 189 adults. The follow-up time was at least one year. The patient history was also scrutinized in case records.ResultsThe most common indications for VCE were anaemia (n = 100) or gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 21) (60%), suspicion of Crohn's disease (21%), abdominal pain (9%) and coeliac disease (6%). The diagnostic value of VCE was rated best in patients suffering from anaemia or bleeding, being decisive or beneficial in 33% (OR 2.3, CI = 1.1–4.8 compared to all series) and helpful in exclusion in an additional 36%. In Crohn's disease, VCE was helpful in the exclusion of intestinal lesions in 50% of cases; in coeliac disease the corresponding percentage was 42%. When abdominal pain was the only indication for VCE, the examination was beneficial in one patient only.ConclusionsThe diagnostic value of VCE was evident in patients with anaemia or gastrointestinal bleeding. The procedure was deemed to be helpful in exclusion also in Crohn's disease and in coeliac disease. Abdominal pain was a rare indication, and the diagnostic yield limited.     

Death following ingestion of MDMA (ecstasy) and moclobemide

Four deaths following the ingestion of moclobemide and MDMA ('ecstasy') are described. The probable cause of death in each case was serotonin syndrome as a result of an interaction between the two drugs. As none of the victims had been prescribed moclobemide it seems that each had taken the drug to enhance the effects of MDMA, with fatal consequences. Warnings are needed against misinformed attempts to potentiate the pharmacological effects of illicit drugs.