Muscle sonography in six patients with hereditary inclusion body myopathy.

Objective: To evaluate the morphological changes of muscle with sonography in six patients affected by hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM).

Materials And Methods: We studied a group of six Persian Jews diagnosed with HIBM. All were homozygous for the GNE mutation M712T.

Newer therapeutic approaches: inflammatory muscle disorders.

The inflammatory myopathies are rare disorders, affecting less than 10 individuals per million per year, and are often difficult to accurately diagnose This article briefly reviews the pathogenesis and clinical features of the inflammatory myopathies, reviews current approaches to therapy, and discusses some of the newer therapies being employed.

Possible role for tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in the treatment of resistant dermatomyositis and polymyositis: a retrospective study of eight patients.

Objective: To understand the use of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha inhibitors in refractory dermatomyositis and polymyositis in an academic centre.

Methods: A retrospective study of eight patients with dermatomyositis or polymyositis refractory to corticosteroids and immunosuppressives who were treated with TNF inhibitors between 1998 and 2004.

Results: 8 patients with dermatomyositis or polymyositis who were treated with TNF inhibitors as adjunct treatment were identified.

Interlaboratory comparison of red-cell ATP, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and haemolysis measurements.

Background And Objectives: Red blood cell (RBC) storage systems are licensed based on their ability to prevent haemolysis and maintain RBC 24-h in vivo recovery. Preclinical testing includes measurement of RBC ATP as a surrogate for recovery, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) as a surrogate for oxygen affinity, and free haemoglobin, which is indicative of red cell lysis. The reproducibility of RBC ATP, DPG and haemolysis measurements between centres was investigated.