HLA-DRB1 gene transcripts in rheumatoid arthritis.

Susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with defined HLA-DRB1 alleles. However the molecular basis of this association is not known. Peculiarities in the expression of disease-linked DRB1 alleles could be involved since in healthy controls HLA-DRB1 gene expression varies according to the alleles in B cells.

Neoadjuvant tamoxifen for operable breast cancer: a need for phase III studies?

We conducted a case-control study to analyze the effect of neoadjuvant tamoxifen on steroid receptors and histologic grade and to evaluate the feasibility of phase III studies in operable breast cancer. Between 1987 and 1990, 107 patients without clinical metastases who had had no chemotherapy preoperatively, were treated preoperatively with 20 mg/day of tamoxifen for 3 weeks. Of them, 92 were matched with controls for age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, presence or absence of lymph node involvement, and preoperative radiotherapy.

[Surgical treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis].

Surgical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis aims to suppress pain, correct deformities, and restore function. This treatment should be adapted to each patient on the basis of clinical and radiographic criteria, with priority given to surgical treatment of the lower limbs. In the early stages, conservative surgery is called for (tenosynovectomy, joint synovectomy) and in later stages, palliative surgery (arthrodesis, prosthesis).

Red blood cell vitamin E concentrations in fetuses are related to but lower than those in mothers during gestation. A possible association with maternal lipoprotein (a) plasma levels.

Objective: The purpose was to establish which blood characteristic of vitamin E status were highly correlated between mothers and fetuses during gestation.

Study Design: Twenty-four pregnant women were selected because of suspicion of toxoplasmosis or other disease and malformation or intrauterine growth delay justifying cord blood puncture. After maternal and fetal blood was collected, analyses of plasma and red blood cell vitamin E contents were performed together with analyses of standard lipid parameters and lipoprotein (a) in maternal plasma and fatty acid compositions of maternal and fetal red blood cells.

[Embryo reduction in multiple pregnancies. A French multicenter study].

Objective: To study the outcome of multifetal pregnancy embryo reductions (MFPR) in France.

Study Design: A retrospective questionnaire multicenter survey was conducted in 11 French centers. 262 consecutive MFPR were collected.

[Life style and prevention of cerebrovascular accidents].

Cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) claim 1.5 million lives each year in industrialized countries; in developing countries, estimates suggest the same distressing trends. CVD rank as the third leading cause of death after ischaemic heart disease and cancer.