Eight weeks of a lower limb resistance training protocol and gait performance in patients with symptomatic mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The role of strengthening the lower limbs to optimize the biomechanics of the hip, knee and ankle during walking in patients with knee osteoarthritis, is still unclear. This study aimed to analyse the walking biomechanics of individuals with symptomatic mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis before and after a simplified lower limb resistance training protocol, focused on knee joint exercises with individualized load.

Methods: Forty-one patients with symptomatic and radiographic mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis underwent 3D gait analysis pre-post 8 weeks lower limb resistance training protocol performed 3 times a week.

[Drinking water regulations in Ukraine and infectious morbidity rate with water pathway of transmission of causative agents].

These are presented drinking water regulations in Ukraine on microbiological indices in the new state document "Hygienic Drinking water regulations intended for human consumption" (State sanitary regulations and standards (GsanPiN) 2.2.4-171-10).

[The European approaches to the microbiological food safety assessment].

The purpose of the study was the analysis of the results of the study of the quality of food products and environment of food industries on microbiological indicators according to domestic and European regulations (EU). The analysis of the quality of food, studied during 2008-2012, showed an increase in the number of samples that do not meet the requirements of regulations at the same time on several factors: mesophilic aerobes and facultatively anaerobic microorganisms, bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae and fungi (molds and yeasts). The results of research in dining facilities, food industries and distribution network for 2008-2011.

[The study of antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles in the form of a colloidal solution in the matrix of finely dispersed silica].

In the experimental study obtained with chemical method colloid solution of nanoparticles (NPs) of silver (Ag) and a composite on his base in the matrix of finely dispersed silica with particle size of 8-12 nm and NPs concentration in basic solution of 0,0016% (0,016 mg/cm3) were established to exhibit high antimicrobial activity against the test organisms: E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S.

Long-term therapy with plasma exchange in systemic sclerosis: effects on laboratory markers reflecting disease activity.

Plasma exchange (PEX) is a technique that has been applied to the treatment of many immunological disorders, including connective tissue diseases. The crucial role of some humoral factors in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) could explain the good clinical results obtained in terms of slowing down the disease progression, but the efficacy of PEX in the treatment of SSc is not yet well defined, owing to the lack of controlled studies and validated parameters of disease activity. To demonstrate the long-term efficacy of PEX in the treatment of SSc we treated a group of 28 SSc patients affected with recent onset and/or rapidly progressive disease.

European multicentre study to define disease activity criteria for systemic sclerosis. II. Identification of disease activity variables and development of preliminary activity indexes.

Objective: To develop criteria for disease activity in systemic sclerosis (SSc) that are valid, reliable, and easy to use.

Methods: Investigators from 19 European centres completed a standardised clinical chart for a consecutive number of patients with SSc. Three protocol management members blindly evaluated each chart and assigned a disease activity score on a semiquantitative scale of 0-10.

Chondrocalcinosis is a feature of Gitelman's variant of Bartter's syndrome. A new look at the hypomagnesemia associated with calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease.

The occurrence of chondrocalcinosis in patients with Bartter's syndrome has been reported as a typical example of hypomagnesemia-associated calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal (CPPD) deposition disease. However, hypomagnesemia is a feature of Gitelman's variant of Bartter's syndrome, whereas serum magnesium levels are normal in Bartter's syndrome strictly speaking. We managed four patients with chondrocalcinosis and hypomagnesemia who met criteria for Gitelman's disease, including hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia with normal or high urinary potassium excretion, hypocalciuria, and normal blood pressure.

Early phenotypic activation of circulating helper memory T cells in scleroderma: correlation with disease activity.

Objectives: The differential expression of several accessory/activation molecules (CD26, CD29, CD45RA, CD25, MLR4, HLA-DR) on peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in patients with scleroderma was compared with that in controls and patients with other connective systemic diseases to look for evidence of the involvement of T cells in the disease process of scleroderma.

Methods: The two colour expression of surface molecules by circulating T cells was analysed with a panel of monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry in 17 patients with scleroderma, 10 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and five patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and the results compared with those for 10 normal controls. The two colour T CD4+ phenotype was further compared between patients with active and quiescent disease in these patients with scleroderma.

Effect of D-penicillamine on the T cell phenotype in scleroderma. Comparison between treated and untreated patients.

To investigate the possible immunomodulatory mechanism of D-penicillamine in Scleroderma (Scl), we analysed the surface phenotype of circulating T lymphocytes in 17 Scl patients, 6 of these studied before and after D-penicillamine treatment, 8 only before and 3 only after treatment. The drug was administered for 6 to 24 consecutive months with a median daily dose of 500 mg. The study of peripheral blood purified T cells was carried out using single-colour immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis (Ortho Diagnostic System) with monoclonal antibodies such as OKT4 (CD4, helper/inducer), OKT8 (CD8, cytotoxic/suppressor), OKDR and MLR4 (activated T cells), and Tec-5/9 (CD26, activated T cells with specific helper function for B cell differentiation).