Enthesiopathy and bone disease during the course of inflammatory spondylarthropathies. Diagnostic and physiopathologic importance

Our studies concerning enthesopathies during the course of spondylarthropathies show that enthesopathies are very frequent: 58% among 48 spondylarthropathies in a preliminary study. The comparison of the frequency of enthesopathies in spondylarthropathies (58%) and in Rheumatoid Arthritis (6.6%) show a highly significant difference. In our latest study enthesopathies were found in 67% among 115 spondylarthropathies. We have also described the mean locations and clinical features. They are observed early in the course of the disease. Histological studies of enthesopatic and normal enthesis were also performed. They were unable to find a specific image. Nevertheless inflammatory changes in some of our cases and in cases retrieved in the medical literature confirm the involvement of enthesis in the pathological process of spondylarthropathies. Enthesopathies represent a very good diagnostic symptom. They are the hallmark of spondylarthropathies for adults and even more for children. Furthermore, if one admits the assertion that peripheral and spinal involvement is the result of bone remodeling enthesitic lesions, then enthesopathies and osteitis, ending in ankylosis, may be considered as the fundamental pathophysiological mechanism of spondylarthropathies in contrast with erosive lesions of rheumatoid arthritis.     

The effect on the insulin-like growth factor system in human prostate epithelial cells of immortalization and transformation by simian virus-40 T antigen

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system has been demonstrated to be important for proliferation and differentiation in tissues. This system has also been demonstrated to be an important regulator of the growth of normal prostate epithelium and has been implicated in the process of transformation to human epithelial prostate cancer. This study examined the function of the various components of the IGF system in benign prostate epithelium (BPE), simian virus-40 (SV40)-T antigen-immortalized prostate epithelial cells, P69SV40-T (P69), and two sublines generated from the parental line by serial passage through athymic mice: one tumorigenic (M2182) and one metastatic (M12). IGF-II messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein were detected in BPE cells, and each of the three P69 cell lines. IGF-II protein levels were significantly higher in medium collected from the P69, M2182, and M12 cells than in BPE. Proliferation in response to IGF was P69 > BPE > M2182 > M12. The proliferative responses in the four cell types were paralleled by an increase in c-jun. In addition, as the cells became progressively more tumorigenic, the basal level of c-jun mRNA increased. IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2), -3, -4, -5, and -6 could be detected in the primary epithelial cell medium; however, as the cells became progressively more tumorigenic, there was a decrease in IGFBP-2, -3, -5, and -6 in the medium. The type 1 IGF receptor (IGFr) also decreased as the cells became more tumorigenic. The M12 cells had 80% fewer receptors than the P69 cells and 70% fewer than M2182 cells. There was no change in the Kd for IGF between the cell lines. Based on these data it would appear that the difference in proliferation between the BPE cells and P69s may be due to an increased concentration of inhibitory IGFBPs in the P69 medium. The decrease in proliferation seen in response to IGF in M2182 and M12 cells compared to the P69s would appear at least in part to be due to a decreased IGFr number. IGFr mRNA is represented by 11.0- and 7.0-kilobase bands in the BPE and P69 cells, but only by an 11.0-kilobase band in M2182 and M12 cells. These data indicate that there are significant changes that occur in the IGF system during the process of malignant transformation of the prostate epithelium. The changes described in the P69 cell system are similar to those seen in vivo and suggest that an intact IGF system may be important in maintaining a differentiated epithelial cell.     

侧明151井φ139.7mm套管走向开窗侧钻小井眼技术的研究

侧明151井是中原油田φ139．7mm套管定向开窗侧钻小井眼技术攻关的第一口井。该井斜向器陀螺定向、φ139．7mm套管开窗、修窗一次成功，整个裸眼段φ116mm小井眼轨迹控制良好，完全达到设计要求，为中原油田老井侧钻、特别是小井眼套管定向开窗侧钻小井眼技术的提高打下了坚实的基础。文中详细介绍了该井的施工情况及技术特点。     

Torsion of wandering spleen: the whorled appearance of the splenic pedicle on CT

Congenital deficiency or acquired laxity of the suspensory ligaments of the spleen may result in extreme splenic mobility. This rare condition, which is termed wandering or ectopic spleen predisposes the elongated splenic pedicle to torsion. We present a case of splenic torsion with a new CT finding consisting of a whorled appearance of the splenic pedicle. To our knowledge this finding has not been described before.     

Patterns of chemical residues detected in US beef carcasses between 1991 and 1993

A study of data from 12 states in the Food Safety Inspection Service's Residue Violation Information System was conducted to describe patterns of violative chemical residues in US beef during 1991, 1992, and 1993. In 1991, 3,249 violative residues were found in 2,734 carcasses in the 12 states included in the study. In 1992, 3,132 violative residues were found in 2,813 carcasses, and in 1993, 2,317 violative residues were found in 2,051 carcasses. During each of the 3 years, the Calf Antibiotic and Sulfonamide Test and Swab Test On Premises projects detected most of the violative residues, and producers/independent growers and dairy farms were recorded as the responsible sources for most of the violations. Also, most of the animals found to have violative residues were bob calves and culled cows. In bob calves, neomycin was the most frequently identified violative chemical, followed by tetracycline, gentamicin, oxytetracycline, and penicillin. In culled cows, penicillin was the most frequently identified violative chemical and was the chemical most frequently found in combination with other chemicals in cows with multiple violative residues. Distribution patterns of violative chemical residues by slaughter class and residue type varied among the 5 Food Safety Inspection Service regions. These specific regional characteristics support the need for customized intervention, education, assessment, and prevention programs.