Adult Still's disease and inflammatory myositis.

Although myalgias occur often in adult onset Still's disease (AOSD), inflammatory myositis is rare. We describe a 41-year-old female with AOSD, who had clinical, enzymatic, electromyographic and pathological evidence of myositis, fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for polymyositis. To our knowledge, this exceptional association has only once been reported before.

Linear scleroderma and melorheostosis: case presentation and literature review.

The case of a 9 year-old male patient with linear scleroderma and melorheostosis of the iliac bone is described. Radiological findings suggestive of osteopoikilosis were found in carpal and tarsal bones. A review of the literature on this unusual disease association is made.

Adult onset Still's disease: clinical features and course.

Fifteen patients with adult onset Still's disease are described, all diagnosed according to recognized criteria. Mean delay in reaching a firm diagnosis was 16 months. Besides the typical clinical picture, there was a high frequency of pruriginous rash, one instance of overlapping polymyositis and recurrent systemic manifestations in most cases. Chronic polyarticular involvement predominated, with radiological progression particularly in wrist, proximal interphalangeal and hip joints. However, functional prognosis at the end of a mean 4.8-year course was satisfactory, as also the response to treatment mainly with steroid drugs and, on occasion, with remitting agents to alleviate arthritis.

Sjögren's in adult Still's disease?

The objective of the study was to search for clinical, ophthalmological and serological manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome in patients with adult onset Still's Disease (AOSD). Eight consecutive patients with AOSD were evaluated. In all cases a standardized questionnaire to disclose sicca symptoms as well as extraglandular manifestations commonly associated with Sjögren's syndrome(SS) was conducted. Ophthalmological and serological evaluation was undertaken in all patients. Oral involvement was investigated by minor salivary gland biopsy in 7 patients. One case presented symptomatic keratoconjunctivitis sicca and grade III Chisholm labial biopsy. A further 2 patients had grade IV (4 foci per 4 mm2) salivary gland biopsy, in the absence of xerostomia or xerophthalmia. The search for autoantibodies proved negative throughout. It was concluded that focal sialoadenitis was not uncommon in our patients with AOSD. Whether this finding corresponds to a true SS is not yet clearly determined.

[Susceptibility of Biomphalaria glabrata to Schistosoma mansoni from Venezuela and Brazil]. / Susceptibilidad de Biomphalaria glabrata a Schistosoma mansoni procedentes de Venezuela y Brasil.

Schistosoma mansoni partially develops its life cycle into snails of the Family Planorbid. Biomphalaria glabrata represents an important host-intermediate. This paper reports experimental infection with miracidia vs. snail in sympatric and parapatric combination. The infection assay to sympatric combination were: BH snail (Belo Horizonte, Brasil) vs. a common geographic origin parasite, and Barbula, Carabobo State, Venezuela vs. SM Venezuela parasitic. The parapatric combination were: BH snail vs. SM; Barbula vs. BH; Caripe Monagas State, Venezuela vs. SM and Caripe vs. SM. During the study period was observed not miracid penetration. The infection percentage ranged from 88.89% in Barbula vs. SM combination to 0.00% in the Caripe vs. BH and BH vs. SM combination. We concluded which different existence of susceptibility from evaluated combination.

Longterm followup of hip and knee soft tissue release in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Longterm results of soft tissue release for hip and knee flexion deformity in 27 patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) were evaluated. A total of 53 tenotomies were reviewed: 22 hips and 31 knees. Mean age at surgery was 12.1 years, with a mean underlying disease duration of 6.3 years and a postoperative followup of 5 years. Patients were evaluated at 3-6 months, then at one, 3 and 5 years. Results showed a marked drop in flexion contracture and an improvement in joint range up to the first 3 years postsurgery, but beyond this period benefits achieved were gradually partially lost. Only 37% of patients were able to walk before surgery. At one year followup, 81% were able to do so. Soft tissue release thus seems a beneficial therapeutic alternative to preserve both alignment and function in hip and knee flexion deformity affecting patients with JCA.

Evaluación microbiológica y fisicoquímica de néctares pasteurizados elaborados con pulpa de tomate de árbol (Cyphomandra betaceae Sendth) / Microbiological and physicochemical evaluation of pasteurized nectar elaborated with tree tomato (Cyphomandra betaceae Sendth)pulp

Tree tomato (Cyphomandra betaceae Sendth) is a species from high tropical regions. In Venezuela, it is cultivate at the Andean and Aragua state but its consumption is restricted as fruit-fresh, though it a nutritious and industrial potential due its provitamin A content. In this research four nectars were elaborated in proportion I L pulp/4 L of water (1:4) and addition of ascorbic acid (I: 0 per cent; II: 0.5 per cent; III: 1.0 y IV: 1.5 per cent). The nectars were pasteurized (60 degrees C for 30 min), tuned into amber bottle, and stored under refrigeration conditions (7.0 +/- 1.0 degrees C). Weekly during 21 days the mesophilic bacteria, molds, yeasts, total coliforms (MPN/mL), pH, degree Brix, acidity, total carotenoids, vitamin C and total sugars were evaluated. The mesophilic bacteria content was < 200 UFC/mL for every formulation on the first day the evaluation, molds and yeasts were < 10 UFC/mL and the total coliforms (NPN/mL) < 3 until the third evaluation. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were founded on: pH. degree Brix and total sugars. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were founded in vitamin C and total carotenoids content. Sensorial analysis did not show significant differences between formulations for the smell and flavor attributes, when the color was discriminate during the evaluations. The formulation I (without acid ascorbic) had more preference due its color. In conclusion, the nectars showed useful life of 14-21 days under refrigeration condition storage due to the adequate physicochemical and microbiological quality of the product.