Polymorphism in a T-cell receptor variable gene is associated with susceptibility to a juvenile rheumatoid arthritis subset

This report demonstrates a T-cell receptor (Tcr) restriction fragment length polymorphism, defined by a Tcrb-V6.1 gene probe and Bgl II restriction enzyme, to be absolutely correlated with allelic variation in the coding sequence of a Tcrb-V6.1 gene. A pair of non-conservative amino acid substitutions distinguish the Tcrb-V6.1 allelic variants. An association of this Tcrb-V6.1 gene allelic variant with one form of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) was established in a cohort of 126 patients. The association was observed in patients possessing the HLA-DQA1*0101 gene. Among HLA-DQA*0101 individuals, 19 of 26 patients (73.1%) carried one particular Tcrb-V6.1 gene allele as opposed to 11 of 33 controls (33%; p<0.005). Haplotypes carrying this HLA gene have previously been shown to confer increased risk for progression of arthritis in JRA. This demonstration of a disease-associated Tcrb-V gene allelic variant has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported and supports the contribution of polymorphism in the Tcr variable region genomic repertoire to human autoimmune disease.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46750/1/251_2004_Article_BF00166831.pd

Outcome of patellofemoral arthroplasty, determinants for success

The primary aim of this study is to document whether patellofemoral arthroplasty is a good treatment option for patellofemoral osteoarthritis and to identify prognostic outcome factors. Secondary aim is to investigate the influence of preoperative tibiofemoral osteoarthritis on the clinical outcome. From 2004 to 2010, 37 Avon patellofemoral prostheses were implanted in 32 patients. Clinical outcome was evaluated with five questionnaires : KOOS, Kujala, VAS, OKS and Satisfaction Score. Radiographs were analyzed using the IWANO and Kellgren-Lawrence classification. To identify determinants of outcome, subgroups were examined according to sex, age, diagnosis, BMI and prior surgery. Patellofemoral arthroplasty is a valuable treatment for patellofemoral osteoarthritis. After prosthesis placement, KOOS, Kujala, VAS and OKS improved significantly (all p < 0.001). Patients with prior patellofemoral surgery were clinically worse (p < 0.05). Patients with preoperative Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 tibiofemoral osteoarthritis had a significantly worse outcome compared to grade 1 (p < 0.05). Further research is necessary to determine whether patellofemoral arthroplasty is indicated in these patients

Émile Verhaeren

Monstre sacré des lettres belges, créateur singulier dont la renommée et l'influence internationale furent énormes, Émile Verhaeren revient aujourd'hui au premier plan. L'auteur des Villes tentaculaires est-il symboliste? Ou devance-t-il plutôt l'expressionnisme? Comment obtint-il la reconnaissance de ses pairs et de la critique? Quel est le secret d'une métrique singulière, dont la renommée fut mondiale? Quelles relations entretint-il avec Rilke, avec Georg Heym? Annonce-t-il André Baillon? Comment devint-il ce "poète national", et de quelle nation, au juste? Telles sont quelques-unes des questions qui se posent aujourd'hui et auxquelles répond ce dossier coordonné par Véronique Jago-Antoine et Marc Quaghebeur. Avec des contributions de: Paul Aron, Jacques Marx, Claude Allart, Jean Robaey, Marc Dominicy, Myriam van der Brempt, Michel Biron, Jean-Pierre Bertrand, Éric L, David Gullentops, Jeannine Paque, Catherine Gravet, Rita Olivieri, Christian Challot, Fabrice van de Kerkhove et, sur Maeterlinck, de Nancy Delay

Dietary practices in methylmalonic acidaemia: a European survey.

Background The dietary management of methylmalonic acidaemia (MMA) is a low-protein diet providing sufficient energy to avoid catabolism and to limit production of methylmalonic acid. The goal is to achieve normal growth, good nutritional status and the maintenance of metabolic stability. Aim To describe the dietary management of patients with MMA across Europe. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire was sent to European colleagues managing inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) (n=53) with 27 questions about the nutritional management of organic acidaemias. Data were analysed by different age ranges (0-6 months; 7-12 months; 1-10 years; 11-16 years; >16 years). Results Questionnaires were returned from 53 centres. Twenty-five centres cared for 80 patients with MMA vitamin B12 responsive (MMAB12r) and 43 centres managed 215 patients with MMA vitamin B12 non-responsive (MMAB12nr). For MMAB12r patients, 44% of centres (n=11/25) prescribed natural protein below the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization/United Nations University (WHO/FAO/UNU) 2007 safe levels of protein intake in at least one age range. Precursor-free amino acids (PFAA) were prescribed by 40% of centres (10/25) caring for 36% (29/80) of all the patients. For MMAB12nr patients, 72% of centres (n=31/43) prescribed natural protein below the safe levels of protein intake (WHO/FAO/UNU 2007) in at least one age range. PFAA were prescribed by 77% of centres (n=33/43) managing 81% (n=174/215) of patients. In MMAB12nr patients, 90 (42%) required tube feeding: 25 via a nasogastric tube and 65 via a gastrostomy. Conclusions A high percentage of centres used PFAA in MMA patients together with a protein prescription that provided less than the safe levels of natural protein intake. However, there was inconsistent practices across Europe. Long-term efficacy studies are needed to study patient outcome when using PFAA with different severities of natural protein restrictions in patients with MMA to guide future practice

Virtual Seminar on the Bioapparatus

Includes a text based on transcripts of proceedings of a seminar on the "bioapparatus," conceived as the focus of issues concerning technology and the body. Statements by 20 artists and writers treat such topics as natural artifice, designing the social, virtual reality, art machines, and aural/visual space. Biographical notes on the participants