The role of Doppler ultrasound in rheumatic diseases

The use of Doppler techniques, including power, colour and spectral Doppler, has greatly increased in rheumatology in recent years. This is due to the ability of Doppler US (DUS) to detect pathological vascularization within joints and periarticular soft tissues, thereby demonstrating the presence of active inflammation, which has been reported to be correlated with the local neo-angiogenesis. In synovitis, DUS showed a high correlation with histological and MRI findings, thus it is considered a valid tool to detect pathological synovial vascularization. Moreover, it is more sensitive than clinical examination in detecting active joint inflammation and in the evaluation of response to treatment. In addition, DUS may be considered as a reference imaging modality in the assessment of enthesitis, MRI being not sensitive and histology not feasible. Moreover, it has been demonstrated to be able to detect changes in asymptomatic enthesis. In conclusion, DUS is a useful and sensitive tool in the evaluation and monitoring of active inflammation. Its widespread use in clinical rheumatological practice is recommended. The aim of this article is to review the current literature about the role of DUS in rheumatic diseases, analysing its validity, reliability and feasibility.     

Is sofosbuvir/ledipasvir safe for the hearts of children with hepatitis C virus?

Background

Symptomatic bradycardia has been reported in adults treated for chronic hepatitis C using sofosbuvir based regimens.

A Method for Assay of Losartan,Its Active Metabolite E-3174, and Glibenclamide in Human Serum and Urine by HPLC-MS/MS

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - A simple, rapid, and reliable method for simultaneous assay of losartan, its active metabolite E-3174, and glibenclamide was developed and validated. The method...     

Effect of tetanus toxin on noradrenalin liberation from rat brain synaptosomes

A purified preparation of tetanus toxin (TT) (80–800 MLD/mg protein) was shown to induce liberation of both endogenous and exogenous (labeled with¹⁴C) noradrenalin (NA) from isolated nerve endings (synaptosomes) of the rat brain. Within the range of concentrations studied TT does not inhibit secretion of NA evoked by depolarization of synaptosomes by different methods in vitro.Laboratory of General Pathology of the Nervous System, Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 89, No. 2, pp. 148–150, February, 1980.