[Anti-ENA antibody determination in various connective tissue diseases: comparison of 2 detection techniques]. / Determinazione di anticorpi anti-ENA in alcune connettiviti: confronto di due tecniche di rilevazione.

The authors compared two different techniques for the detection of anti-ENA antibodies (anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-SSA, anti-SSB) in several different connective tissue diseases, using double immunodiffusion (ID) and a new membrane-based enzyme immunoassay. The aim of the work was to research the assay sensibility and specificity of the results obtained with the two different methods. Notwithstanding the fact that the two techniques are equivalent in their performance, the recombinant DNA appears to have greater sensibility and less specificity compared to ID. The former requires less time of execution although it presents difficulty in interpreting low scale positive results. Although the number of sera examined was low, the authors assert that the recombinant DNA technique will require further development.

Histopathological study of iron deposit distribution in the rheumatoid synovium.

A qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation of synovial iron deposits in 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 12 patients presenting with degenerative and traumatic joint disease was carried out. Ferric iron deposits, abundant and preferentially distributed in the superficial and deeper connective tissue layers in the RA patients, were more limited and prevalently sited in the synovial lining layer in the controls. These results further underline the increase in synovial iron stores found in active RA and the role played by iron deposits in sustaining inflammation, as has been reported in the literature.

Electrophysiologic evaluation of local steroid injection in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Extensive sensory and motor nerve conduction studies were performed in a series of patients with electrophysiologically proven, idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome who were treated by a single steroid injection (40 mg of triamcinolone acetonide). Electrophysiologic studies, which included evaluation of median, ulnar, and radial orthodromic sensory action potentials, median and ulnar motor action potentials, and electromyography of two intrinsic muscles of the hand, were done before and at 45 days and six months after the treatment. By the end of the follow-up period, the symptoms had remitted completely in 11 hands (35%), 18 (58%) benefitted from partial relief, and two did not improve. In addition to the relief of symptoms, abnormalities of motor nerve conduction improved in 65% of cases, and abnormalities of sensory nerve conduction improved in 73% of all the individual digital branches of the median nerve examined. Recovery of function of the median nerve continued for a long period, even after the pharmacologic effect of the steroid agent had presumably ceased.

[Evaluation of the use of thymopentin in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis]. / Valutazione dell'impiego di timopentina in pazienti affetti da sclerosi sistemica progressiva.

Although the exact etiology of progressive systemic sclerosis (SSP) is still unknown, it is felt that immunologic disorders may be implicated in its pathogenesis. On the basis of these considerations, an open study with an immunomodulating drug, thymopentin, was performed in 20 SSP outpatients. These subjects were initially treated with thymopentin three times a week for three consecutive months (phase I); during a second study phase lasting three months, 10 patients continued to receive thymopentin and the remaining 10 placebo (phase II). A significant improvement in various clinical, laboratory and instrumental findings was seen following thymopentin treatment. During phase II, those on placebo regressed to basal conditions, while an added improvement was noted in those who continued with thymopentin.

[Efficacy of sucralfate in the prevention of stomach diseases induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs]. / Efficacia del sucralfato nella profilassi delle gastropatie indotte dai farmaci antiinfiammatori non steroidei.

In 20 patients suffering from osteoarthritis and treated with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for one month sucralfate has been added for further two months. Endoscopic examination before/after this treatment confirmed the cytoprotective property of sucralfate, with normalization of the gastric mucosa and subsidence of subjective symptomatology.