Vertebral collapse in juvenile chronic arthritis: its relationship with glucocorticoid therapy.

Forty-six patients with juvenile chronic arthritis maintained on glucocorticoid therapy have been reviewed retrospectively for evidence of vertebral collapse. The 23 patients who had sustained vertebral fractures had received a daily dose 2.3 times higher than those without. No patients sustained a vertebral collapse until they had received a prednisolone cumulative dose of at least 5 g. It would appear that the ideal dose, if collapse of vertebrae is to be avoided, should be not more than 5 mgs daily, probably best given as 10 mg on alternate days; unfortunately, some children with serious systemic disease cannot be controlled on these low doses. In such cases it seems justified to investigate the possible use of the oxazoline derivative of prednisolone (deflazacort) in view of its reported bone-sparing properties in adults

Vertebral collapse in juvenile chronic arthritis: its relationship with glucocorticoid therapy.

Forty-six patients with juvenile chronic arthritis maintained on glucocorticoid therapy have been reviewed retrospectively for evidence of vertebral collapse. The 23 patients who had sustained vertebral fractures had received a daily dose 2.3 times higher than those without. No patients sustained a vertebral collapse until they had received a prednisolone cumulative dose of at least 5 g. It would appear that the ideal dose, if collapse of vertebrae is to be avoided, should be not more than 5 mgs daily, probably best given as 10 mg on alternate days; unfortunately, some children with serious systemic disease cannot be controlled on these low doses. In such cases it seems justified to investigate the possible use of the oxazoline derivative of prednisolone (deflazacort) in view of its reported bone-sparing properties in adults

Growth and survival of Trichomonas vaginalis

This study confirmed that Feinberg and Whittington medium was suitable for the cultivation and detailed study of the growth cycle of two clinical strains of Trichomonas vaginalis under anaerobic conditions. Both strains showed a similar growth pattern characterised by early but slow growth, extended duration of the logarithmic phase and limited survival never exceeding 144 h. Duration of survival and growth rate were inversely proportional to the inoculum density. Growth rate was pH dependent; pH values in the range 6.9-6.5 delayed the initiation of growth of T. vaginalis for at least 48 h. On the other hand, pH values of 6.4-4.5 were indifferent or slightly favourable for growth during the logarithmic and survival in the early decline phase. Normal saline and Ringer's solution exerted an early and progressively lethal effect on trichomonads and led to the disappearance of protozoa suspended in them in 150 min. in general, these in-vitro results shed light on some aspects of the biology of T. vaginalis and contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of the infection

Comparative study of the effects of some inducers with or without protein binding properties on bioavailability of isoxazolylpenicillins in rats

The effect of various inducers with or without protein binding properties on serum levels and half life of Oxacillin, Cloxacillin and Dicloxacillin was studied. A total of 102 male rats classified in 3 "categories" according to the administered penicillin with 6 groups of rats in each of them were used. Each group was pretreated for 15 days with the following inducers: phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, diazepam, chlorpromazine and phenylbutazone. The control groups received saline. The d-glucaric acid concentration in the urine prior to and after the administration of inducers and the liver weight were taken as enzyme induction indices. The results showed a decrease of serum levels and half life of three penicillins with a negative correlation between urine d-glucaric acid and serum penicillin levels. Phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin and chlorpromazine affected the 3 penicillins in the following statistically significant order: oxacillin, dicloxacillin, cloxacillin. Diazepam affected: cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, oxacillin, and phenylbutazone: dicloxacillin, cloxacillin and oxacillin. However all drugs finally produced a uniform effect on all 3 penicillins in the following decreasing order: Phenobarbital (r = - 0.910), diphenylhydantoin (r = -0.864), phenylbutazone (r = -0.851), chlorpromazine (r = - 0.842) and diazepam (r = -0.821). For all inducers, the effect was most significant for oxacillin (r = -0.869), second most significant for dicloxacillin (r = -0.811) and finally for cloxacillin (r 0.778). The results suggested an interaction of isoxazolylpenicillins and the above drugs. © 1986 Springer-Verlag

EFFECT OF CADMIUM PRETREATMENT ON LIVER-REGENERATION AFTER PARTIAL-HEPATECTOMY IN RATS

Cadmium is a rare dement that is nevertheless widely distributed throughout the biosphere and its toxic effects are becoming potentially more serious due to industrialization. Liver regeneration can be considered as a spectacular example of controlled tissue increase. In this study we examined the effect of cadmium pretreatment, administered 24 h before partial hepatectomy, on the liver regenerative process in rats, at different time intervals. The rate of H-3 thymidine incorporation into hepatic DNA and the activity of the enzyme thymidine kinase were used as indices of liver proliferative capacity. Thymidine kinase, the rate-determining enzyme of DNA biosynthesis, was suppressed during the first hours following partial hepa tectomy in the liver of cadmium pretreated animals. DNA biosynthesis was also strongly decreased in cadmium pretreated animals, by delaying the first peak of liver regeneration, compared with the partially hepatectomized ones. Biochemical parameters, mitotic index and proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining were also coestimated. The above data suggest that cadmium pretreatment suppressed the hepatic regenerative process, probably due to the inhibition of thymidine kinase