Bench to Bedside: Modelling Inflammatory Arthritis.

Inflammatory arthritides such as rheumatoid arthritis are a major cause of disability. Pre-clinical murine models of inflammatory arthritis continue to be invaluable tools with which to identify and validate therapeutic targets and compounds. The models used are well-characterised and, whilst none truly recapitulates the human disease, they are crucial to researchers seeking to identify novel therapeutic targets and to test efficacy during preclinical trials of novel drug candidates.

Progressing the care, husbandry and management of ageing mice used in scientific studies.

Driven by the longer lifespans of humans, particularly in Westernised societies, and the need to know more about 'healthy ageing', ageing mice are being used increasingly in scientific research. Many departments and institutes involved with ageing research have developed their own systems to determine intervention points for potential refinements and to identify humane end points. Several good systems are in use, but variations between them could contribute to poor reproducibility of the science achieved.

NK cell function is markedly impaired in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia but is preserved in patients with small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are part of the same disease classification but are defined by differential distribution of tumor cells. B-CLL is characterized by significant immune suppression and dysregulation but this is not typical of patients with SLL. Natural killer cells (NK) are important mediators of immune function but have been poorly studied in patients with B-CLL/SLL.

Outcome of Minimally Invasive Distal Metatarsal Metaphyseal Osteotomy (DMMO) for Lesser Toe Metatarsalgia.

Background: As in all fields of surgery, advances in orthopaedic surgery develop toward less invasive surgical techniques. The advantages of smaller incisions include minimal soft tissue dissection allowing procedures to be performed as outpatient surgery. There is the assumption that this leads to a quicker recovery time permitting an earlier return to work.

Repeated ultraviolet exposure affords the same protection against DNA photodamage and erythema in human skin types II and IV but is associated with faster DNA repair in skin type IV.

We have investigated the photoprotective properties of induced pigmentation using erythema and epidermal DNA photodamage as endpoints. Previously unexposed buttock skin of 12 young, healthy adults (six skin type II and six skin type IV) was exposed daily (Monday to Friday) for 2 wk (days 1-12) with 0.65 minimal erythema dose of solar simulated radiation.