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N Thumb

Publications and source records attributed to N Thumb.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

[Radiosynoviorthesis with yttrium-90-silicate. Results compared to aurum-198-colloid and whole body radiation load].

The results of the radiosynoviorthesis with yttrium-90 silicate in 36 joints, are reported. In comparison to the radiogold therapy in 64 joint, yttrium-90 was a little more effective. Additionally, the body distribution of radioactive yttrium after radiosynoviorthesis of knee joints, was measured in 6 patients. It could be shown that the uptake of the regional lymphnodes was between 4 and 5% of the yttrium administered. The radiation dose of the regional lymphnodes certainly exceeds 1000 rad. The results point to the importance of a careful selection of patients for radiosynoviorthesis.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

[The implementation of a computerized documentation system for the evaluation of spa therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)].

A previously-described documentation system for articular examination was applied to evaluate the results of spa treatment in 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis during 3 separate treatment periods. Physical joint findings were documented and indices were compiled by means of a computer before, during and after treatment with thermal water the first year, normal water the second year (or vice versa) and without baths at all in the third year. These indices were compared statistically. Each kind of treatment produced a statistically-significant improvement in the disease, there being no significant difference in the results achieved by the 3 therapeutic regimens.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

[Cytogenetic investigations in patients receiving an intraarticular injection of gold-198 (author's transl)].

The chromosomes of lymphocyte cultures from the peripheral blood were investigated in 10 patients (rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, osteoarthrosis of the knee) before and at short-term intervals (1 day, 3 to 4 days, 14 to 18 days) after the injection of gold-198 (5 to 20 mC; usually 8 mC; average particle size 300 A) into the knee-joint. The number of structural chromosomal abberrations increased markedly in 4 of the 10 patients. On the first day after the gold injection the mean aberration rate was significantly higher than the control value (Chi2-5.18; df=1; P less than 0.05). Most of the observed aberrations were chromatid aberrations and this finding is discussed.

Aged

[X-ray documentation of the anamnesis and physical data in patients with rheumatism within the scope of the medical information system WAMIS].

A computerized on-line system of evaluating of symptoms and physical data in rheumatology is presented. Case history, previous treatment, and physical examination are documented. The documentation of the latter may be performed in two ways: one records only joint symptoms, the other includes joint measurements. In comparison to the former off-line method, all data are much better available. Moreover, we believe it to be considerably timesaving. This system should also allow an electronic differential diagnosis of rheumatic diseases, after completing laboratry and X-ray documentation.

Austria

[Therapy evaluation in rheumatology with an electronic data processing system].

A system for the evaluation of therapeutical effects in rheumatic diseases is presented. This system permits a calculation of two indices: i.e. rheuma-number and "Masszahl" (= only measured values such as range of motion in degrees) which lend themselves to statistical treatment. The result of standardized physical joint examination of patients is recorded on two mark-pages, specially developed for documentation of joint status. The data recorded on the two-mark-pages are then entered into the computer by means of a mark-page-reader. On the basis of these data, the computer, upon the basis of a program specially developed for this purpose, automatically calculates the corresponding amount of negative-points, which parallels the severity of the joint changes, i.e. the rheuma-number ("Rheumazahl"). Separately listed at the end of the status-outprint is the "Masszahl", which is part of the rheuma-number and comprises the measured values (for example, the range of motion measured in degrees). The practicability of this system is demonstrated on the basis of the results of a double-blind-comparison of two antirheumatic-corticosteroid-combinations and an open study with immuno-suppressives in patinets with rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents

Demonstration of antibodies to collagen and of collagen-anticollagen immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluids.

Twenty-nine synovial fluids from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 10 synovial fluids from patients with other joint diseases were investigated with regard to the presence of antibodies to denatured human collagen and of collagen-anticollagen immune complexes. 12 of the 29 RA synovial fluids showed anticollagen titres from 1:16 to 1:512 in passive haemagglutination. Only one patient in the group with no arthritis had a significant anticollagen titre of 1:32. Digestion of the synovial fluids with bacterial collagenase resulted in an anticollagen titre increase from two to four dilution steps in 9 of the RA fluids, while 6 previously negative RA synovial fluids showed anticollagen titres from 1:32 to 1:28 after digestion with collagenase. These results indicate the existence of collagen-anticollagen immune complexes in 15 of the 29 RA synovial fluids investigated.

Animals

[Side effects in immunosuppressive therapy].

61 patients with rheumatoid arthritis received a total of 80 courses of immunosuppressive therapy with one or more of the following substances: azathioprine, chlorambucil, mannitolmustard, cyclophosphamide, procarbazine. The overall results were excellent or good in 50% of the patients. There was a significant correlation between the efficacy of the different substances and the rate of side effects. Azathioprine was best tolerated, but gave only medium results whereas procarbazine, as a very potent drug, had the highest rate of side effects (especially depression of bone marrow, infections, gastrointestinal manifestations etc.). Serious immediate side effects of the immunosuppressive therapy according to our experience and in literature are infections and leucopenia, whereas the most important late risk is the possibility of an occurrence of malignancy. In our series, which had been followed up to five years, no malignancies have been thus far detected. Also, in the literature, there are only very few patients with malignancies published. Therefore the risk of immunosuppressive therapy in rheumatoid arthritis with regards the incidence of malignancies, seems to be relatively small in contrast to the findings in patients with kidney transplants.

Alopecia

[Mixed connective tissue disease. Clinical studies on a new group of collagenoses].

The clinical features of 6 patients with symptoms of various connective tissue diseases and rheumatoid arthritis are reported. The frequency of symptoms corresponded to that of the syndrome, which Sharp et al. (1971) termed mixed connective tissue disease. The antibodies to an extractable nuclear antigen are a characteristic feature. Moreover, one may detect a speckled staining pattern by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, moderate immunoglobulin deposits were observed in the skin and kidneys of our patients. The pathomechanism of these deposits is discussed.

Adult

Collagen antibodies and collagen- anticollagen immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Serum, synovial fluid and synovial fluid cells of 14 patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis and of 5 controls were investigated serologically in regard to rheumatoid factors and collagen antibodies and by immunofluorescence double staining in regard to localization of collagen and gammaglobulin in fluid cells. Three patterns of staining were observed: a) gammaglobulin inclusions, b) gammaglobulin and collagen in identical localization, c) collagen inclusions. While distinct staining for gammaglobulin appeared only in seropositive cases, collagen inclusions were only observed in RA, however in seropositive and seronegative cases. In 5 RA cases collagen and gammaglobulin were demonstrated additionally in such identical localization that conclusion in regard to collagen-anticollagen immune complexes seems justified. 9 of 14 RA cases had collagen antibodies, all cases were collagen antibody positive which had collagen and gammaglobulin in identical localization in same inclusions.

Antigen-Antibody Complex