Cloning, sequence and expression of two distinct human interleukin-1 complementary DNAs

Two distinct but distantly related complementary DNAs encoding proteins sharing human interleukin-1 (IL-1) activity (termed IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta), were isolated from a macrophage cDNA library. The primary translation products of the genes are 271 and 269 amino acids long, although expression in Escherichia coli of the carboxy-terminal 159 and 153 amino acids produces IL-1 biological activity.

Reproducibility of multiple-observer scoring of radiologic abnormalities in the hands and wrists of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Forty-one coded radiographic films from 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were read by 13 observers, using 4 different methods for scoring abnormalities. Although absolute scores differed widely among individual observers, correlation coefficients were greater than 0.850 for approximately 2 of 3 comparisons. When films were ranked, using the median rank of all readers, 72% of individual ranks were within 10% of the median ranks. Among serial films on individual patients, 92% of comparisons between early and late films were interpreted as demonstrating progression of abnormalities when mean standardized scores showed an increase in scores of 15 units or greater. Films with lesser changes were interpreted inconsistently. This study shows good general agreement among readers in scoring radiologic abnormalities of hands and wrists, when applied to a film set showing a broad spectrum of severity, and defines the sensitivity of radiologic detection of disease progression.

Cloning, sequence and expression of human interleukin-2 receptor

T lymphocytes, essential for the generation of a normal immune response, require the presence of the lymphokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) in order to proliferate. Cells that respond to IL-2 possess a surface receptor glycoprotein specific for this lymphokine. We have recently purified and chemically characterized the IL-2 receptor from both phytohaemagglutinin-activated human T cells and the human T-cell lymphoma HUT-102 (ref. 5). From the NH2-terminal protein sequence obtained in that study, we have now used synthetic oligonucleotides to probe a complementary DNA library, prepared from HUT-102 messenger RNA, for the presence of cDNA clones that might code for the IL-2 receptor. Two cDNA clones were isolated which had closely related DNA sequences. Interestingly, only one coded for an active receptor when transfected into COS-7 cells. This clone contained a 216-base pair (bp) insert that was not present in the other clone. The insert was flanked by an 8-bp direct repeat reminiscent of a transposable element, and appeared to code for a region of marked structural homology to the NH2-terminal region of the receptor molecule.

Pogotowie Ratunkowe: the emergency medical system of Poland

In March 1983, in conjunction with the Columbia University Affiliated Hospitals Residency in Emergency Medicine, Overlook Hospital, and under the auspices of the Ministry of Health in Warsaw, we visited Poland to study the country's emergency medical system. The emergency medical service, Pogotowie Ratunkowe, is responsible for civilian acute care throughout the nation. Its domain includes operation of the freestanding emergency medical care centers, all emergency transport and ambulance services, and several short-stay emergency hospitals. The system utilizes a modular concept, and the same basic organization is employed in each of the 49 provinces and five largest cities. The heart of each module is a central dispatch station, ambulance base, and emergency treatment facility. A hub of substations, with treatment areas and ambulance bases, completes the system. All ambulance dispatches come from the central office. A toll-free number provides access. An integral part of the central dispatch station is the information bureau. Individuals seeking a missing person can, by calling a single number find out if they have been picked up by any ambulance, admitted to any hospital, or treated in any ambulatory emergency center within the province. Ambulances are staffed by physicians and equipped with medications. Once on the scene the physician may elect to treat the patient, transport him to an emergency station, or admit him to a hospital. A system of general and specialized ambulances makes the best use of limited resources, such as cardiac resuscitation and trauma vehicles. The need for such technology as telemetry is averted because a physician is on the scene to read the electrocardiographic monitor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Purification and chemical characterization of the receptor for interleukin 2 from activated human T lymphocytes and from a human T-cell lymphoma cell line

The cell surface receptor for interleukin 2 plays a central role in the biology of this T-cell growth factor. A combination of affinity chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and NH2-terminal protein sequencing was used to purify and chemically characterize the interleukin 2 receptor both from phytohemagglutinin-activated T cells and from the human T-cell lymphoma cell line HuT-102. The receptor isolated from HuT-102 cells was purified 16,000-fold to homogeneity as evidenced by (i) a final specific activity close to the theoretical specific activity of 18,182 fmol of receptor per microgram of protein, (ii) a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an Mr of 55,000, and (iii) a unique, unambiguous NH2-terminal protein sequence. The receptor purified from phytohemagglutinin-activated T lymphocytes had an Mr of 60,000 but it had the same NH2-terminal protein sequence.

A new indirect method for measuring spinal conduction velocity in man

A non-invasive, indirect method for measuring spinal cord mixed afferent-efferent conduction is described. The method is based upon eliciting late reflex responses labelled R1 and R2 from voluntarily contracting thenar and tibialis anterior muscles by preferentially stimulating median and common peroneal sensory nerve fibres. The mean onset latencies of R1 measured 27.5 msec and 30.6 msec recorded from hand and leg muscles respectively. R2 mean onset latencies measured 46.0 msec and 65.1 msec respectively. R1 has characteristics similar to an H-reflex. R2 is a long-loop reflex of unknown pathway assumed to involve similar circuits and rostral turn around points when elicited by both arm and leg stimulation. Mean spinal cord conduction time between the seventh cervical and fifth lumbar spinous processes, is given by (formula; see text) It measured 7.95 msec and the calculated mean conduction velocity was 57.9 +/- 5.7 m/sec.

Measuring efficiency of selection from briefly exposed visual displays: a model for partial report

In the proposed model for partial report, performance reflects the number of targets in a short-term memory buffer. The total number of items (targets, distractors, or extraneous noise) entering the buffer is independent of the number of targets and distractors in the stimulus. Entrance is determined by selective sampling according to a Luce (1959) ratio rule. The model was tested in a variety of conditions with partial reports based on brightness, color, shape, or alphanumeric class. With three parameters, the model accounted for 99% of the variance with number of targets and number of distractors in data obtained by averaging across conditions. Parameter K (number of items entering the buffer) showed little variation with the selection criterion, and estimates for parameter epsilon (total impact of extraneous noise with impact per target as the unit) were rather small. Estimates for parameter alpha (impact per distractor with impact per target as the unit) varied widely across conditions. Parameter alpha is a measure for the efficiency of selecting targets rather than distractors.

The effects of auranofin and parenteral gold in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: an X-ray analysis

X-rays from patients in comparative studies of auranofin and parenteral gold were obtained before and during treatment, and analysed using a modification of the method of Larsen. One hundred and nineteen auranofin-treated and 113 parenteral gold-treated patients contributed data, which were analysed for changes from 0-6 months, 0-12 months and from 0-6 and 12 months. Progression of erosive processes and of joint grade occurred with both treatments, but the proportion of patients with progression in the first six months was greater with auranofin treatment. However, there was evidence that both treatments produced slowing of the erosive process during the second six months of treatment.

Chloroquine in long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

The effect of long-term (18-70 months) chloroquine treatment 250 mg daily, in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was studied in 20 patients. Sedimentation rates were significantly reduced, as compared to a reference group of 10 RA patients on no treatment of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Radiographical progression of the disease was low in the majority of chloroquine-treated patients but not significantly different from the finding in the patients of the reference group. Rapid radiographical progression during 2-3 years was, however, observed in 5 patients despite chloroquine treatment.

Visual apparent movement: transformations of size and orientation

Sequential alternation between same-shaped stimuli differing in size (size ratio s) and orientation (angular difference v) produced a visual illusion of translation in depth and concurrent rotation. The minimum stimulus-onset asynchrony required for the appearance of a rigidly moving object was approximately a linearly increasing function of (s-1)/(s+1) for simple translation in depth and a linearly increasing function of v for simple rotation. The extrapolated zero intercept was lower for translation than for rotation, but estimated transformation times were additive in combined transformations. The results suggest that (a) the processes of apparent translation in depth and apparent rotation are individually sequential-additive in structure, and (b) apparent translations and rotations are combined by fine-grained alternation of steps of apparent translation and steps of apparent rotation. Similar principles account for recent data on imagined spatial transformations of visual size and orientation.

Digitoxin kinetics and renal excretion in children

Digitoxin kinetics were investigated in 11 children, three girls and eight boys, with a mean age of 7.1 yr (5.9 to 9.2). Five children received digitoxin, 17.5 to 20 micrograms/kg IV, and six other children received 20 micrograms/kg as an oral solution. Digitoxin was given as a single dose 24 to 48 hr after cardiac surgery, and patients were monitored in an intensive care unit for 24 hr. Serum and urine digitoxin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Children had larger apparent volumes of distribution (1 l/kg) than adults (0.57 l/kg). Mean serum elimination t 1/2 was 6.4 days in children (3 to 11.2) and 8.2 days in adults (5.9 to 11.3). Total body clearance was much greater in children (0.085 ml X min-1 X kg-1) than in adults (0.036 ml X min-1 X kg-1). This was because of an increase in metabolic clearance, although there was no difference in renal clearance in children and adults. Absolute oral bioavailability, measured by comparing serum AUCs after intravenous and oral doses, was complete. Peak serum concentrations of 23 to 50 ng/ml developed 90 to 120 min after the oral dose. A single digitalization dose of 20 micrograms/kg was well tolerated and did not induce arrhythmias.

Velocity constraints on apparent rotational movement

The visual illusion of apparent rigid rotation was produced by sequential alternation of two views of the same object in different orientations. The minimum stimulus-onset asynchrony required for the appearance of rigid rotation was a linearly increasing function of the angular difference in orientation between the two views. Variation in the size of the object affected the zero-intercept of the function, but the slope was virtually constant. The slope invariance suggests that the appearance of rigid rotation is constrained by an upper bound on the apparent angular velocity of the object as a whole, rather than a bound on the linear velocity of its parts.

An altered DNA conformation detected by S1 nuclease occurs at specific regions in active chick globin chromatin

The single-stranded activity of S1-nuclease cleaves globin chromatin in red cell nuclei in specific regions. The cleavages are observed only in tissues in which the globin genes are active, and they "switch" to reflect the switching pattern of globin-gene expression in embryonic and adult red cells. The positions of the S1 cleavages in the beta- and alpha-globin chromatin correspond to the general region of known DNAase I-hypersensitive sites, but can be distinguished in detail. When DNA segments containing these regions are subcloned into pBR322 and the supercoiled molecules are treated with S1, similar sites are cleaved in the purified supercoiled (but not linear) recombinant plasmid DNA. However, the dominant S1 cutting sites are shifted in the plasmid vis-a-vis the chromatin. We believe that some aspect of DNA sequence is translated into an altered DNA structure in chromatin and that it is this altered structure that is recognized by s1 nuclease and possibly by certain chromosomal proteins. Several physical properties reflected in the S1 digestion of supercoiled plasmids suggest a mechanism for generating differences in daughter cells during development.

Contact sensitivity in mice evaluated by means of ear swelling and a radiometric test

Contact sensitivity to picryl chloride was investigated by means of the ear swelling test and a radiometric test in order to establish optimal experimental conditions for these assays. Contact sensitivity was demonstrated as soon as 2 days after sensitization, with a maximum reaction 3-4 days after sensitization, when a 48 hr test reaction was registered. The test reaction was followed for 72 hr and maximum was arrived at after 24 hr and 48 hr for the ear swelling test and the radiometric test, respectively. Optimal sensitization was reached with a 7% solution of picryl chloride and a maximum test reaction was found with 0.75-1.0% picryl chloride. It is concluded that both assays measure contact sensitivity in quantitative terms and a future replacement of the guinea pig maximization test is discussed.

The calcium carbimide-ethanol interaction: lack of relation between electroencephalographic response and cerebrospinal fluid acetaldehyde

Penetration of acetaldehyde into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was studied in healthy human volunteers during calcium carbimide-ethanol interaction. CSF was sampled via lumbar puncture and blood from a cubital vein. CSF and blood acetaldehyde concentrations varied from 1 to 41 and from 22 to 138 mumol/l, respectively. The results indicate that acetaldehyde penetrates the human blood-liquor barrier. Computer analysis of electroencephalograms (EEGs) recorded during the interaction showed reduction in alpha activity with a concomitant increase in delta activity. The changes were similar to those previously observed during 'normal' ethanol intoxication.

Alpha-Globin-gene switching during the development of chicken embryos: expression and chromosome structure

We have analyzed the chromosome structure and expression of the alpha-gene cluster in developing chicken embryos. Using recombinant lambda clones (Dodgson and Engel, 1980), we show a striking relationship between chromosomal regions that are unmethylated, regions that are DNAase I-sensitive and regions that are transcribed. Adjacent regions at both the 5' and 3' sides of the active alpha genes are methylated and relatively insensitive to DNAase I. The active alpha subdomain defined by these assays begins right at the 5' side of the first alpha gene (alpha D) in the active cluster in definitive red cells and extends through a 1.5 kb spacer, into the second alpha gene (alpha A), and 1.5 kb beyond the 3' side of that gene. The sharp boundaries of this subdomain suggest that specific DNA sequences may establish its borders. The extension of the active chromosomal domain beyond the most stable nuclear transcript suggests that transcription may proceed beyond the 3' ends of both alpha A and alpha D. This has been verified by in vitro runoff nuclear transcription. Presumably, poly(A) addition occurs before transcription is terminated. During the switch from the primitive to definitive lineage of erythroblasts, the so-called U gene becomes inactive. This inactivity is reflected in its assembly into a more DNAase-resistant structure. The associated DNA also becomes methylated, and no transcription is detectable by endogenous RNA polymerases. A DNAase I-hypersensitive region at the gene becomes inactivated after the switch to the definitive lineage.

Digitalis glycosides in serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, determined with a commercial radioimmunoassay

We evaluated a commercial (Clinical Assays, Inc.) 125I radioimmunoassay for digitoxin for use in measuring cardiac glycosides in serum, buffer, urine, and cerebrospinal-fluid samples. We also assessed interference of seven cardioactive metabolites of digitoxin, including digoxin, with the assay. The precision of the assay was adequate for all matrixes studied for glycoside concentrations less than 5 microgram/L. Reactivity in the assay was dependent on the nature of the matrix: buffer and serum samples containing digitoxin showed a stronger reactivity than did samples of urine and cerebrospinal fluid. Patients' samples must therefore be analyzed with a standard curve prepared by use of the same matrix. The digitoxosides of digitoxin showed a slightly higher reactivity in the assay than did digitoxin itself, but digitoxigenin showed a 50% lesser reactivity. Digoxin, its digitoxosides, and digoxigenin hardly react at all in the assay and so do not interfere with digitoxin determinations.

Digitalis glycosides in serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, determined with a commercial radioimmunoassay

We evaluated a commercial (Clinical Assays, Inc.) 125I radioimmunoassay for digitoxin for use in measuring cardiac glycosides in serum, buffer, urine, and cerebrospinal-fluid samples. We also assessed interference of seven cardioactive metabolites of digitoxin, including digoxin, with the assay. The precision of the assay was adequate for all matrixes studied for glycoside concentrations less than 5 microgram/L. Reactivity in the assay was dependent on the nature of the matrix: buffer and serum samples containing digitoxin showed a stronger reactivity than did samples of urine and cerebrospinal fluid. Patients' samples must therefore be analyzed with a standard curve prepared by use of the same matrix. The digitoxosides of digitoxin showed a slightly higher reactivity in the assay than did digitoxin itself, but digitoxigenin showed a 50% lesser reactivity. Digoxin, its digitoxosides, and digoxigenin hardly react at all in the assay and so do not interfere with digitoxin determinations.

Digitalis glycosides in serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, determined with a commercial radioimmunoassay

We evaluated a commercial (Clinical Assays, Inc.) 125I radioimmunoassay for digitoxin for use in measuring cardiac glycosides in serum, buffer, urine, and cerebrospinal-fluid samples. We also assessed interference of seven cardioactive metabolites of digitoxin, including digoxin, with the assay. The precision of the assay was adequate for all matrixes studied for glycoside concentrations less than 5 microgram/L. Reactivity in the assay was dependent on the nature of the matrix: buffer and serum samples containing digitoxin showed a stronger reactivity than did samples of urine and cerebrospinal fluid. Patients' samples must therefore be analyzed with a standard curve prepared by use of the same matrix. The digitoxosides of digitoxin showed a slightly higher reactivity in the assay than did digitoxin itself, but digitoxigenin showed a 50% lesser reactivity. Digoxin, its digitoxosides, and digoxigenin hardly react at all in the assay and so do not interfere with digitoxin determinations.

Physiological control of phosphorylation ribosomal protein S6 in Mucor racemosus

The level of phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 increased with accelerating rates of growth and protein synthesis in Mucor racemosus. Lowered levels of phosphorylation were seen under conditions of metabolic shift-down or the onset of stationary phase, and no phosphorylation was detected in sporangiospores. Changing metabolic states, changing intracellular levels of adenosine triphosphatase, and the level of phosphorylation of protein S6 were correlated in M. racemosus.

Peripheral neuropathy and myopathy. An experimental study of rats on alcohol and variable dietary thiamine

The effects of variable dietary thiamine concentrations (deficient, normal, surplus) on the development of alcoholic neuromyopathy in rats exposed for 36 weeks to 10-25% (v/v) ethanol or water (control group) as the sole drinking fluid were studied by histological and electrophysiological methods. Abnormalities in the structure of the sciatic nerve (phagocytosis, myelin abnormalities, increase in nonspecific cholinesterase activity) and tibial muscles (angular atrophic fibers, group atrophy, fibre necrosis) developed more frequently in animals on diets deficient in thiamine than in animals on diets with normal or surplus thiamine, and more frequently in animals drinking alcohol and water than in those drinking water alone. No differences were observed between the different groups in the number of perivascular sympathetic nerves, in the motor nerve conduction velocities and in the muscle fibrillation potentials. Thus, thiamine deficiency, established as a significant reduction of red blood cell transketolase activity, seems to have a deleterious effect on the peripheral nerves and muscles. The effect is enhanced by the simultaneous consumption of ethyl alcohol.

Ribosomal proteins of the dimorphic fungus, Mucor racemosus

Ribosomal proteins of the dimorphic fungus Mucor racemosus were isolated and characterized by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins from ribosomes of the yeast and mycelial phase were compared, and were found to be qualitatively indistinguishable. The only consistent difference in the patterns of proteins was in a protein of the 40S subunit, S-6. This protein was phosphorylated in yeast and hyphae forms, but not in asexual sporangiospores. Studies on protein S-6 showed that it contained 3 phosphate residues per molecule of protein when maximally phosphorylated. In this form 3 different tryptic peptides were shown to contain a single phosphoserine. The S-6 protein also existed in forms containing 1 or 2 phosphates per molecule, depending on growth conditions.

Interobserver variation in the evaluation of radiologic changes of rheumatoid arthritis

The variation between four radiologists in the evaluation of hand, wrist, and foot radiographs of rheumatoid arthritis was examined. The recognition of individual radiologic changes varied considerably as judged by the findings of the different observers. Erosion and joint space narrowing were interpreted more uniformly than soft tissue swelling and osteoporosis. When the radiographs were graded from 0 to 5 using standard reference radiographs, more than 90% of them were graded uniformly or with a difference of only one grade. The investigation has shown that when applying grading of rheumatoid arthritis according to standard reference radiographs, the interobserver variation is considerably less than when pure individual radiological changes of rheumatoid arhtritis are considered.

The haemostatic effect of purse-string suture in transvesical prostatectomy: a controlled clinical trial

In a series of 64 consecutive cases of transvesical prostatectomies it is shown that the use of a purse-string suture at the bladder neck significantly reduces the postoperative blood loss. A follow-up 3 months after operation has shown that the suture did not increase the number of either bladder neck stenoses, urinary incontinences, urinary infections or secondary lithiases.

Myopathy associated with chronic alcohol drinking. Histological and electrophysiological study

Muscles of the lower legs of rats given 25% ethanol in water ad libitum for up to 9.5 months were studied using histological, histochemical and electrophysiological techniques. Ethyl alcohol was substituted for about 20% of the total calorific input of the animals. The observations were compared with the structure of the gastrocnemius muscle of five alcoholics with clinical neuropathy. Fibrillation potentials and angulated atrophic fibers were observed in the muscles of animals on alcohol for 9.5 months. No fiber type grouping was present. There was also phagocytosis of the muscle fibers and changes in their internal structure, as reflected by the distribution of NADH-diaphorase. The observed muscle changes in the alcoholics and those in the experimental animals on alcohol differed mainly quantitatively, the only exception being the presence of fiber type grouping in the biopsies from the alcoholics.

Effects of pindolol, sotalol and the optical isomers of propranolol on muscle action potentials and depolarization-secretion coupling in the rat

Muscle action potentials and miniature end-plate potential frequency were studied in different concentrations of pindolol, d- and l-propranolol and sotalol using intracellular microelectrode recording from rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparations. d-and l-propranolol at concentrations of 10 to 40 mg/l and pindolol at 20 to 100 mg/l slowed down the rate of rise, prolonged rise and half-decay times and reduced the overshoot of the muscle action potentials. Sotalol had similar effects but only at higher concentrations (100 to 200 mg/l). The drugs had no effect on the increase in the miniature end-plate potential frequence obtained with depolarization by increased extracellular potassium concentration.

Size scaling in visual pattern recognition

Human visual recognition on the basis of shape but regardless of size was investigated by reaction time methods. For successive matching of random figures, reaction time increased linearly with the linear size ratio of stimulus pairs. For single-character classification, reaction time increased with divergence between cued size format and stimulus format such that for character nonrepetitions, the increment in latency was approximately proportional to the logarithm of the linear size ratio of the two formats. However, when reactions to character repetitions were faster than those to nonrepetitions, the repetition reaction time function was similar to that for successive matching of random figures. The results suggested two processes of size scaling: mental-image transformation and perceptual-scale transformation. Image transformation accounted for matching performance based on visual short-term memory, whereas scale transformation accounted for size invariance in recognition based on comparison against visual representations in long-term memory.

On the neuromuscular effects of pindolol and sotalol in the rat

The effects of pindolol and sotalol on neuromusclar transmission were tested using intracellular microelectrode recording of resting membrane potentials, miniature end-plate potentials and end-plate potentials, and recording of muscle contractions upon nerve stimulation of rat phrenic nerve-hemidaphragm preparations. Both pindolol and sotalol reduced the amplitudes of miniature end-plate potentials and end-plate potentials in a dose-dependent manner without significantly affecting their time-courses. Pindolol, but not sotalol, also increased the frequency of the miniature end-plate potentials and decreased th number of acetylcholine quanta released by nerve impulses. Neither of the drugs significantly affected resting membrane potentials of the muscle fibres or excitability of the motor nerve to electric stimulation.

Size scaling in visual pattern recognition

Human visual recognition on the basis of shape but regardless of size was investigated by reaction time methods. For successive matching of random figures, reaction time increased linearly with the linear size ratio of stimulus pairs. For single-character classification, reaction time increased with divergence between cued size format and stimulus format such that for character nonrepetitions, the increment in latency was approximately proportional to the logarithm of the linear size ratio of the two formats. However, when reactions to character repetitions were faster than those to nonrepetitions, the repetition reaction time function was similar to that for successive matching of random figures. The results suggested two processes of size scaling: mental-image transformation and perceptual-scale transformation. Image transformation accounted for matching performance based on visual short-term memory, whereas scale transformation accounted for size invariance in recognition based on comparison against visual representations in long-term memory.

Characterization of the DNA-synthesizing cells in rheumatoid synovial tissue

DNA-synthesizing cells from the rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue of 7 patients and from 5 patients with traumatic and degenerative joint lesions were studied by incubating fresh synovial tissue samples with tritiated thymidine. Labelled cells were identified using autoradiography. The tissue sections were stained with methyl green pyronine. It was found that 0.66% (range 0.38-1.4) of the cells were labelled with 3H-thymidine whereas in control materials the percentage was 0.17 (range 0-0.38). Approximately half of the labelled subsynovial cells in rheumatoid patients (range 37-67%) were small lymphocytes, according to morphological criteria. About one-tenth of the labelled cells (range 0-17%) looked like medium-sized lymphocytes, while the rest had the characteristics of fibroblasts or were unidentifiable.

Clofibrate-induced myopathy in the rat

Rats were given daily injections of 0.2 or 0.5 g/kg chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (clofibrate) for 9 to 46 days. Lower leg muscles were studied with light and electron microscopy. Daily treatment with 0.5 g/kg of the drug for 26--46 days caused myopathic changes.

Radiographic evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions by standard reference films

A review of radiographic evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis is given. Standard reference films are introduced for evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions in the extremity joints. In this system, numerical evaluation of arthritis is given for individual joints in a patient.

Comparison between the effects of pindolol and propranolol on essential tremor

The effects of 120 mg propranolol and 15 mg pindolol daily on positional tremor of 24 patients with benign essential tremor were analyzed with a double-blind crossover trial and electrical tremor recording. Compared with the placebo effect, tremor amplitude was smaller under propranolol and larger under pindolol, whereas the frequency did not change.

Osmic acid in rheumatoid synovitis. A controlled study

In 24 adult RA patients with knee joint synovitis and bilateral hydrops, the worse joint clinically was treated with osmic acid and 50 mg of hydrocortisone acetate, while the better joint clinically was treated with 40 mg of methylprednisolone acetate (Depot Medrol). After 6 months, hydrops was palpable in 8 joints treated with osmic acid and in 15 joints treated with corticosteroid only. Pain relief was more marked in joints treated with osmic acid.

Osmic acid in rheumatoid synovitis. A controlled study

Ninety-nine adult RA patients with knee joint synovitis were randomized into two groups. The knee joints of the first group (52 patients) were treated with osmic acid and those of the second group (47 patients) with a placebo. After 6 months, the incidence of hydrops and pain was statistically less significant in joints treated with osmic acid. the result was better in joints without advanced radiological destruction. It is concluded that osmic acid is still of benefit in the local treatment of rheumatoid knee joint synovitis at an early stage.