No effect of acetylcystein on refractory rheumatoid arthritis

Acetylcystein has some chemical similarities with Penicillamine and other thiol containing compounds with effect on rheumatoid arthritis. We report an open trial on seven patients with refractory rheumatoid arthritis in which no beneficial effect could be seen after up to twelve months treatment in doses 600-1200 mg acetylcystein daily. No definite laboratory changes were seen, apart from a tendency towards higher IgA levels at the end of the treatment period.

Patterns of self-destructive behaviour in schizophrenia

Of 110 consecutive, young schizophrenic patients, 18 (16.4%) died during a follow-up period of 14-17 years from first admission. Fifteen of them met with a sudden death. Definite suicide was proven in 10 cases (9%). Suicide was associated with chronicity in course, social dependency, and lowered efficiency. Some type of warning was present in all suicide cases. The frequency of suicide thoughts and attempts was high in the whole material. Suicide attempts were associated with protracted non-regressive symptomatology, readmission to hospital, social intervention, and female sex. The disparity of characteristics between attempted suicide and definite suicide cases may partly be explained by the preponderance of women among the former and by the fact that only half of the suicidal deaths occurred when the frequency of attempts was at its peak. In attempted suicide in men their characteristics were compatible with those of the whole group, as well as with those of the suicide cases.

Prediction of outcome in schizophrenia

Prediction of 5-8 year outcome from presenting symptoms and background data was attempted in a sample of 110 first-admitted schizophrenics. Correlations between outcome criteria and single predictors as well as factor analytically derived clusters of predictors were studied. A rather consistent pattern of symptom variables as well as personality and social variables was found to be predictive of outcome. 'Atypical' symptoms were associated with good prognosis while longitudinal variables indicative of 'high-risk personality', or duration and severity of illness, were related to bad prognosis. Overt psychotic symptoms usually gave no correlations with outcome. A discriminant analytical approach was also used to predict outcome from combinations of predictor variables. When all variables were used to predict a combined outcome score, a high accuracy was achieved.

Differential evaluation of outcome in schizophrenia

State of health, work and social relations functioning as outcome measures in 95 survivors out of 110 schizophrenic probands proved to be only moderately intercorrelated at follow-up 6-9 years after first hospital admission. Total sick-leave time was the only treatment measure mirroring combined outcome, while the hospital treatment variables were connected only to working and self-supporting ability. Among social competence data, only living in partnership, and producing children after falling ill were associated with a favourable outcome. Self-reports and simple judgements by near relatives in response to precise questions provided reliable information. Attitude questions were completely unrelated to outcome. Outcome did not vary with type of initial symptomatology (regressive/non-regressive) but long duration of regression meant an unfavourable outcome. A better outcome in women as to social competence, working ability and degree of psychopathology stresses the necessity of noting the sex composition of materials in prognostic investigations.

On Weighted G Analysis

An analytic method for discriminating between clinical subgroups is introduced. It is based on a weighted G index and is therefore called weighted G analysis. In this analysis group weights for the various items are determined, after which a Q analysis is run on the analysis group. Scores in the factors for imagined delegates of the clinical subgroups are computed, after which scores of the individuals in a validation group are computed. Using a distance-based placement system, the persons in the validation group are placed into subgroups. For a specific set of empirical data with normals and schizophrenics as subgroups, 31 of 32 subjects were placed correctly.

Changes in the lipids of human articular cartilage with age

Histochemical and chemical studies demonstrated a significant increase in the lipods of articular cartilage with advancing age. Triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids were identified chemically and were shown by comparative staining procedures to be present in intracellular and extracellular lipids. The distribution and the composition of the extracellular lipids were interpreted as indicating that the extracellular lipids are of cellular origin. Glycolipids were extracted from cartilage of all ages and were shown to account for a portion of the increase in total lipid with age. Glycolipids extracted from aged cartilage were partially characterized. Cerebrosides, sulfatides, and gangliosides were detected. Glycolipids were estimated to comprise from 5 to 10% of the total lipid of articular cartilage. Arachidonic acid concentrations increased maredly with age in the surface of cartilage but were present in trace amounts in deep cartilage, demonstrating clear-cut differences in the levels as well as the location of this fatty acid precursor of the prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF2alpha).