The effect of meloxicam, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on spontaneous osteoarthrosis of the ankle joint in Crl: CDBR rats was investigated. The drug was administered in the feed at doses of 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mg/kg/day over a period of 2 years to 50 males and 50 females per dose. 100 male rats and 100 female rats were used as controls. Histological examination revealed osteoarthrotic changes of varying degrees of severity in the hip, knee and ankle joints of both treated and untreated animals. The incidence and severity of these changes was greatest in the ankle joints. There was little difference between treated and untreated animals as regards the site, incidence, severity and histological appearance of the osteoarthrotic changes. At the doses tested, meloxicam does not affect the processes involved in spontaneous osteoarthrosis in the rat and can therefore be regarded as chondroneutral in this species.

Animals↗

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Clinical decision support systems for the practice of evidence-based medicine.

BACKGROUND: The use of clinical decision support systems to facilitate the practice of evidence-based medicine promises to substantially improve health care quality. OBJECTIVE: To describe, on the basis of the proceedings of the Evidence and Decision Support track at the 2000 AMIA Spring Symposium, the research and policy challenges for capturing research and practice-based evidence in machine-interpretable repositories, and to present recommendations for accelerating the development and adoption of clinical decision support systems for evidence-based medicine. RESULTS: The recommendations fall into five broad areas--capture literature-based and practice-based evidence in machine--interpretable knowledge bases; develop maintainable technical and methodological foundations for computer-based decision support; evaluate the clinical effects and costs of clinical decision support systems and the ways clinical decision support systems affect and are affected by professional and organizational practices; identify and disseminate best practices for work flow-sensitive implementations of clinical decision support systems; and establish public policies that provide incentives for implementing clinical decision support systems to improve health care quality. CONCLUSIONS: Although the promise of clinical decision support system-facilitated evidence-based medicine is strong, substantial work remains to be done to realize the potential benefits.

Decision Support Systems, Clinical↗

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Hemoglobin Riyadh--alpha2beta2 (120(GH3)Lys replaced by Asn). A new variant found in association with alpha-thalassemia and iron deficiency.

On a field trip toSaudi Arabia (M.A.F.E.H.) in which the relationship between alpha-thalassemia and iron deficiency was studied, a fast moving hemoglobin variant was noted in a 30 year old Saudi Arabian woman. Analysis of the hemoglobin variant showed that the amino acid substitution was beta120 Lys replaced by Asn. This variant had not been described previously and has been named Hb Riyadh. There was also present an alpha-thalassemia and details are given of the imbalance of globin chain synthesis. It was possible to improve considerably the balance in vitro by the addition of hemin.

Adult↗

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[Hemoglobin Stanleyville II and mucoviscidosis in an Alsatian family].

Hemoglobin Stanleyville II, resembling hemoglobin D, has been found several times in individuals from Central Africa. This paper now reports its discovery in Alsace, in an 8 year old girl with cystic fibrosis. The mother and 5 out of 7 siblings had the abnormal hemoglobin. Only 2 of these 5 children had all the symptoms of cystic fibrosis. The family has been living in Alsace for many generations. Cystic fibrosis, a congenital disease, has a high incidence (1/1,800) among white children but is rare in black people.

Adult↗

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Osteoarthrosis of the ankle joints in old rats.

The paper describes results of histological investigations on 26-month-old rats with osteoarthrosis of the ankle joints. From the morphological appearance a sequence of alterations from focal chondrocytic necroses, fibrillation to partial or total cartilage loss occurred. The reported changes were often present in opposing cartilage contact zones. A synovitis seems not to be involved in this cartilage destructive process. It is assumed that this spontaneously occurring osteoarthrosis can be used as a model to study the mechanisms leading to cartilage destruction. The model may further be useful to elucidate protective or detrimental effects of therapeutic substances.

Age Factors↗

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Comparative distribution of sulphur, thiols and disulphides in the porcine stratum corneum.

Biochemical, histochemical and cytochemical analyses were used to determine the sulphur contents and the thiol and disulphide distribution in the stratum corneum (SC) of the wild boar (WB), a large domestic pig breed (DP) and the Goettingen miniature pig (GMP). The sulphur contents (% DW) were different in the three animal types (WB: 1.70-1.38 body, 0.54 ear; DP: 0.84-0.53 body, 0.50 ear; GMP: 2.28-2.51 body, 2.66 ear). The results of the histochemical analysis of SH- and -S-S- groups were clear, and densitometrical extinctions were highest in most body regions of the GMP for thiols and disulphides, followed by the DP for thiols, and the WB for disulphides. Absolute SC thickness was highest in the body of the GMP (62-80 mum), and generally lowest in the ear (20-38 mum) of all animal types. Relative SC thickness was the same for all animals in the body (40-66%), but lower in the ear (30%). Only -S-S- concentrations were correlated with SC thickness, and primarily in the GMP. Cytochemical analysis showed that high sulphur concentrations were obvious particularly in the CCE of corneal cells in the DP, as compared to the cytoplasm. Intracellular sulphur distribution was homogenous in the WB, and in the GMP, although in the latter at a higher concentration level. The results indicate breed-related effects on keratinisation in porcine corneal cells. Only the SC of the outer side of the ear of DP females is recommended as a model for humans.

Animals↗

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