Development and validation of a preclinical canine model for early onset fracture-related infections.

Fracture-related infections (FRIs) are a challenging complication in orthopaedics. Standard of care management for FRIs typically involves prolonged antibiotic therapies, irrigation and debridement (I&D) of the fracture site, and retention of fracture-fixation implants with or without exchange. Unfortunately, this treatment regimen is associated with treatment failure rates of up to 38 %, such that improved preventive and therapeutic interventions are needed.

Different distributions of kinetically apparent molecular varieties of alpha 2-macroglobulin in health and in patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis.

1. Proteinase inhibitors have been studied in whole serum by using a kinetic method that avoids potentially damaging protein separation procedures. 2.

Raised enzyme markers of chronic inflammation in asymptomatic farmers' lung.

Subclinical inflammatory activity may be one of the factors which influences the variable natural history of farmers' lung. Serum lysozyme (LYS) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) have been measured in 52 farmers with a previous history of farmers' lung and in 51 healthy control farmers. The group with farmers' lung assessed during the winter, although having had no recent acute symptoms, had significantly higher levels of LYS and ACE compared to both healthy control farmers seen in winter and farmers' lung subjects seen in summer.

Cinnarizine in the treatment of chronic asthma.

1 Cinnarizine, an inhibitor of calcium ion transport across smooth muscle cell membrane, has been shown to exert an anti-asthmatic effect in patients with chronic asthma. 2 It is postulated that antagonism to calcium ion transport across the mast cell membrane may cause the compound to have a pharmacological effect similar to sodium cromoglycate. 3 Cinnarizine is orally active and its therapeutic effect is demonstrated in a double-blind, cross-over, placebo controlled study.

Value of measuring serum angiotensin I converting enzyme and serum lysozyme in the management of sarcoidosis.

Serum angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) and lysozyme have been measured in 23 controls, 115 patients with sarcoidosis, and 64 with other chest diseases. Both enzymes were significantly raised in sarcoidosis. ACE was raised above the normal range in 21 of 72 (29%) patients with definite sarcoidosis and in 17 of 38 (45%) of those who were untreated and seen within one year of presentation.

Pulmonary and pleural lesions in rheumatoid disease.

Lung and pleural involvement in rheumatoid disease is reviewed and discussed. Attention is drawn to the male preponderance, to the frequency with which lung infections occur in rheumatoid patients and to some problems posed in them by infection with mycobacteria. Pleural effusion, pulmonary nodules and fibrosing alveolitis are familiar in association with rheumatoid arthritis.

Localized amyloidosis of the lower respiratory tract.

Amyloidosis limited to the lower respiratory tract is a relatively rare condition. Three new patients are reported, and the pertinent literature is reviewed. The available information is discussed with regard to clinical forms, diagnostic methods, therapy, and clinical course.

Spirometry in healthy men: a correlation with smoking and with mild symptoms.

Symptoms, smoking history, and variates taken from the forced expiratory manoeuvre were studied in a group of 271 healthy men attending a mass radiography unit. It was found that correlation of the forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC) with the presence of mild or moderate respiratory symptoms was at least as satisfactory as that of technically more complicated measurements such as MEF50 and MEF75. In asymptomatic individuals those differences associated with smoking were the same for FEV1/FVC as for MEF75.