Assessment of Age-Related Differences in Functional Capacity Using the Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT).

Clinical trials for primary prevention and early intervention in preclinical AD require measures of functional capacity with improved sensitivity to deficits in healthier, non-demented individuals. To this end, the Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT) was developed as a direct performance-based assessment of functional capacity that is sensitive to changes in function across multiple populations. Using a realistic virtual reality environment, the VRFCAT assesses a subject's ability to complete instrumental activities associated with a shopping trip. The present investigation represents an initial evaluation of the VRFCAT as a potential co-primary measure of functional capacity in healthy aging and preclinical MCI/AD by examining test-retest reliability and associations with cognitive performance in healthy young and older adults. The VRFCAT was compared and contrasted with the UPSA-2-VIM, a traditional performance-based assessment utilizing physical props. Results demonstrated strong age-related differences in performance on each VRFCAT outcome measure, including total completion time, total errors, and total forced progressions. VRFCAT performance showed strong correlations with cognitive performance across both age groups. VRFCAT Total Time demonstrated good test-retest reliability (ICC=.80 in young adults; ICC=.64 in older adults) and insignificant practice effects, indicating the measure is suitable for repeated testing in healthy populations. Taken together, these results provide preliminary support for the VRFCAT as a potential measure of functionally relevant change in primary prevention and preclinical AD/MCI trials.

Accurate atom counting in mesoscopic ensembles.

Many cold atom experiments rely on precise atom number detection, especially in the context of quantum-enhanced metrology where effects at the single particle level are important. Here, we investigate the limits of atom number counting via resonant fluorescence detection for mesoscopic samples of trapped atoms. We characterize the precision of these fluorescence measurements beginning from the single-atom level up to more than one thousand. By investigating the primary noise sources, we obtain single-atom resolution for atom numbers as high as 1200. This capability is an essential prerequisite for future experiments with highly entangled states of mesoscopic atomic ensembles.

Immunocytomorphopathological studies on the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Thirty cases of rheumatoid arthritis were submitted to cytomorphological, histopathological (HE, VG, PAS Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine O), histoenzymological (Acid Phosphatase, chondroitin-sulphatase, Peroxidase) and immunological (rheumatoid factor (RF)) studies; circulating immune complexes, anti-collagen antibodies II, Reactive C protein (CRP), Complementary C3 fraction were also assessed. The synoviocytogram of the rheumatoid synovial fluid (SF) indicated a cytosis with polynucleosis and ragocytosis compared to the hydroarthrosic SF defined by lymphocytosis (47.8%). Enzymologically, especially for high titres of rheumatoid factor, a phosphatase and peroxidase activity was observed in polymorphonuclear cells of a ragocytary type and in phagocytic mononuclear cells. The severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were correlated histopathologically with chronic villous synovitis associated with some processes of obliterant vascularitis, fibrosis and sclerosis. At the level of synovio-cartilage junction, fissures and a homogenization of the cartilaginous fundamental substance in the vicinity of disintegrated synovial structures were noticed. Histoenzymologically, a lysosomal and oxidative activity was found in chondrocytes and in synovial macrophages. Immunological assessments (73 serum and 60 synovial fluid samples) showed pathological values of circulating immune complexes, anti-collagen antibodies and C reactive protein. The complementary synovial depletion of the C3 fraction underlines the immune character of the rheumatoid synovitis. The immunocytomorphologic data correlation demonstrates the involvement of immunologic and enzymatic factors in the evolution of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Correlation of some cytomorphological and ultrastructural modifications of synovial fluid in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Experiments have been performed on 25 synovial fluid samples from patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (mono- and polyarticular forms) and with hydroarthrosis, the latter considered as controls. By cytomorphologic studies, we determined the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram of the synovial fluid cellular pellet and found out that the synovial fluid from cases of juvenile chronic arthritis is characterised by cytosis (11.270/mm3; 15.275/mm3), polynucleosis (67.3%, 72.2%) and ragocytosis (12.8%, 17.5%) whereas hydroarthrosis synovial fluid is characterised by lymphocytosis (47.8%). Ultrastructurally, ragocyte-like polymorphonuclear cells are characterised by: a) segmentation of the nucleus and preferential concentration of chromatime on the periphery of the nuclear membrane: b) frequent intracytoplasmic inclusions and phagolysosomes. Phagocyte-like mononuclear cells present numerous inclusions and phagolysosomes, certainly indicating an endocytic activity. Lymphocytes are characterised by a narrow cytoplasmic rim, presenting relatively few cellular organelles. They coexist with immunely activated lymphocytes rich in cytoplasm, mitochondria and endoplasmic reticle. Corroboration of cytomorphological and ultrastructural date enables us to explain the morphological modifications and emphasize their importance in juvenile chronic arthritis pathogenesis and diagnosis.

Histopathological and histoenzimological investigations of the rheumatoid articular cartilage.

Twenty seven biopsies of articular cartilage taken intraoperatively from patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and from control patients with traumas were examined using histopathological techniques (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine 0) and histoenzymological techniques (Acid phosphatase-lysomal marker, Chondroitinsulphatase, Peroxidase). Histopathologically, the rheumatoid articular cartilage appears with superficial and deep cartilaginous fissures, frequent perichondrocytic gaps associated with modification of the tinctorial activity. At the pannus synovia-cartilage junction we found invasive and destructive synovial inflammatory infiltrates penetrating and eroding the cartilage. Histoenzymologically, the rheumatoid chondrocytes have a high lysosomal potential (phosphatasic, chondroitinsulphatasic) and highly oxidative potential (peroxidasic) specific for lesion modifications.

Aspects of ankylosing spondylarthritis immunopathogenesis correlated with some immunoseric- and synovial parameters in the investigation of histopathological and electronmicroscopic alterations of the articular cartilage correlated with some immunoseric and synovial parameters.

Eighteen biopsies of articular cartilage taken intraoperatory from patients with Ankylosing Spondylarthritis (AS) and from others with traumatisms (controls) were investigated using histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranin 0), electronmicroscopic and histoenzymamologic techniques. Histopathologically, the synovitis in AS is characterized by abundant synovia lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates associated with aspects of vascular hyperplasia and fibrosis. At the pannus synovia-cartilage junction we found the invasive synovia lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates. The proteoglycan (PG) depletion is confirmed histopathologically by diminishing the Safranin 0 staining, then ultrastructurally by the existence of collagen revealing areas, whereas biochemically, by the presence of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in serum and synovial fluid (SF). The morphological data were related to some immunological parameters involved in pathogenesis. In this way, we found pathological values of the immune circulating complexes (ICC) (serum, mean = 73.5 U; SF mean = 81.80 U) and of anti Collagen II antibodies (serum mean = 410 U; SF mean = 436 U). The reactive protein C acting in the phase (CRP) showed high pathological values both in serum (mean = 5.01 mg%) and in SF (mean = 3.6 mg%) of the patients with AS, emphasizing the inflammatory characteristics of the rheumatic disease. The presence of ICC, anticollagen II antibodies and GAS as well in synovia suggests that the inflammatory articulation in AS is a local potential antigen of collagen and proteoglycan nature.

Aspects of immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis correlated with some immunological parameters in histopathological and electronmicroscopical investigations of the articular cartilage.

The histopathological (H. E., V. G., PAS-Alcian, Safranine 0, Gömöri) and electron-microscopical investigations were carried out on twenty samples of articular cartilage taken during operations from patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (R. A.) and from others with traumatism, as controls. Histopathologically, the rheumatoid synovial membrane is characterized by synovitis with abundant perivascular lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates. At the pannus synovia-cartilage junction we found the invasive and destructive inflammatory infiltrates penetrating and eroding the cartilage. The histopathological characteristics of the rheumatoid articular cartilage lie in alteration of tinctorial activity, affection of reticuline collagen network and the presence of superficial and deep cartilaginous fissures. The histopathological alterations were confirmed ultrastructurally. Immunologically we found pathological serum values regarding the immune circulating complexes (I. C. C.) (mean = 104 +/- 1.04 U), anticollagen II antibodies (mean = 538 +/- 5 U), reactive Protein C (mean = 16.75 +/- 1.95 mg%) and orosomucoid (mean = 151.1 +/- 4.91 mg%), in seropositive R. A. The corroboration of histopathological, electronmicroscopical and immunological data show the inflammatory and autoimmune feature of this rheumatic disease.

Cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological characteristics of the ovialsyn fluid in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.

Experiments have been performed on 15 samples of synovial fluid (SF) from patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (Latex 1/280 and Waaler Rose 1/1024) versus 10 SF samples from patients with hydroarthrosis, used as control. By cytomorphologic studies, we determined the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram of the SF cellular pellet and found out that rheumatoid SF is characterized by cytosis (9953/mm3), ragocytosis (70%) and polynucleosis (73%) whereas hydroarthrotic SF is characterized by lymphocytosis (54.6%). Ultrastructurally, rheumatoid SF ragocytes present numerous intracytoplasmic inclusions and phagolysosomes, a fact that certainly evidences an endocytotic activity. At the level degenerative of PMN cells, (6%), the experiments evidenced the presence of some lysis cytoplasmic plateau associated with the absence of cellular organelles, as well as an alteration of the granulofibrillar structure of the nucleus. We also noticed cellular debris consisting of partially destroyed cellular organelles. By immunologic studies we obtained seric pathologic values for CIC (mean = 108.05 U), IgM (mean = 420 Ul/ml), IgG (mean = 355 Ul/ml), anti DNA antibodies (mean = 405 U) and anti collagen II antibodies (mean = 558 U). As regards the seric complement activity of C1q and C3 fractions, it was higher (mean = 18.87 mg% and mean = 109.94 mg%, respectively) than in the SF (mean = 5.78mg% and mean = 30.83 mg%, respectively). Corroborating the cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological data, we could better explain the lesional types examined and emphasize the importance of the immunomorphological changes in RA diagnosis.

Some humoral immunological aspects of the rheumatoid arthritis correlated with the ultrastructural changes of the rheumatoid synovial fluid.

We performed serologic and synovial investigations in rheumatoid (Latex 1/1280, 1/640, negative and Waaler Rose 1/1024, 1/512, negative), non-rheumatoid and control lots. The immunological results were correlated with ultrastructural changes found in the synovial fluid (SF) at the same titres of rheumatoid factor (RF). The pathologic values of the circulating immune complexes (CIC) (mean = 108.05 U), IgM (mean = 420 UI/ml), IgG (mean = 355.36 UI/ml), and anti-collagen II antibodies (mean = 558.6 U) were present at high titres of RF (Latex 1/1280, Waaler Rose 1/1024). These cases had also major ultrastructural changes of the nucleus and cytoplasm. We inferred from this the implication of the immune factors in the etiology and pathology of the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The high, titres of RF were correlated with pathologic values of the C-reactive-protein (CRP) (mean = 13.31 mg%) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (A-1-GA) (mean = 158.3 mg%). The decline of the complement fraction C3 from the synovial fluid in RA confirms the immune character of the rheumatoid synovitis and may be useful in the diagnosis process. The significantly lower concentrations of the protease inhibitors alpha-1-anti-trypsin (A-1-AT) (mean = 165.1 mg%) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A-2-M) (mean = 129.6 mg%) in synovial fluid suggest a diminution of the anti-proteasic activity due to local immune conflict.

Cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological particularities of the synovial fluid in seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

Our studies on the cytomorphological and ultrastructural analysis of 15 Synovial Fluid (SF) samples from patients diagnosed with seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and 10 SF from patients with Hydroarthrosis considered as controls were carried out. By cytomorphological studies we determined the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram. SF in seronegative RA is characterized by leucocytosis (7,656/mm3) with polynucleosis (65.38%) and ragocytosis (59.27%) versus hydroarthrosis SF defined morphologically by lymphocytosis (47%). Degenerative forms of ragocyte-like polymorphonuclears (PMN) cells, individualized by an ultrastructural alteration less evident than recorded in seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), associated with a remarkable capacity of endocytosis. The ultrastructural alterations, immune complexes (CIC), the immunoglobulins (MG) and the anticollagen II antibodies, suggest the early implication of these immune parameters in etiopathogenesis. The corroboration of the cytomorphological, ultrastructural and immunological data allows the profound study of the etiopathogenic mechanism and may represent a paraclinical criterion for differentiated seronegative RA field.

An ultrastructural study of the synovial fluid (S.F.) in rheumatoid arthritis versus ankylotic spondylarthritis.

Our studies focused on the cytomorphological and ultrastructural analysis of ten synovial fluid (S.F.) samples from patients with serum positive rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.) (latex 1/1280, 1/640 and Waaler-Rose 1/1024, 1/1512) as compared to five S.F. sampes from patients with peripheral ankylotic spondylarthritis (A.S.). The cytomorphological investigation aimed at defining the cellularity, ragocytosis and synoviocytogram. We found out that the average number of cells (R.A. = 8060/mm3; A.S. = 6100/mm3), percentage of ragocytes (R.A. = 75%; A.S. = 25%), polymorphonuclear cells (R.A. = 70%; A.S. = 58%), degradative polymorphonuclear cells (R.A. = 7%, A.S. = 3%) and phagocytic mononuclear cells (R.A. = 16%; A.S. = 13%) are by far larger in R.A. than in A.S., whereas the lymphocyte percentage is much more reduced (R.A. = 13%; A.S. = 26%). Ultrastructurally, the rheumatoid S.F. ragocytes present specific intracytoplasmic inclusions and phagolysosomes pointing to an endocytotic activity. At the level of the degradative polymorphonuclear cells (7% cytomorphologically confirmed), the alteration of the granular-fibrillar structure of the nucleus and the presence of some cytoplasmic lysis areas were associated with the absence of cellular organelles. We also noticed cellular and collagen detritus. In A.S. the ultrastructural effect on the polymorphonuclear cells is much more reduced (3%) as compared to R.A. and resides in the dilatation of both mitochondrial cristae and granularendoreticular cisternae as well as in a slight concentration of the fibrogranular nuclear matter. The cells are considerably active in endocytosis. The phagocytotic mononuclear cells of the rheumatoid S.F. and A.S. are morphologically identical to the immunologically activated macrophages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Optimizing therapeutic methods in mandibular fractures]. / Optimizarea metodelor de tratament în fracurile de mandibula.

The authors present various methods for immobilizing mandibular fractures, stressing their advantages and disadvantages. They describe modern surgical methods used in immobilizing these fractures, considering methods employed in stable, functional osteosynthesis that have improved indications for surgical therapy, and that have made obsolete intermaxillary immobilization. These methods are more acceptable for the patient because they allow for a completely normal diet, as well as the maintenance of a normal hygiene in the buccal cavity. Evolution of the recovery is more easily followed, and in case of complications interventions are easily carried out in a short time. The presence of functional stimuli enhances the development of a good callus, and the full recovery is shortened by 2-3 weeks.