The role of interpersonal synchrony in forming impressions of autistic and non-autistic adults

When people meet, they almost instantaneously form an impression of each other. First impressions of character traits and rapport are less favourable when people with autism spectrum condition (ASC) are judged compared to non-autistic people. Little is known about the behavioural differences that drive these altered impressions. In the present study, we investigated the influence of interpersonal synchrony on impression formation of autistic and non-autistic people. Specifically, we used lagged cross-correlations to assess how much each interactant's motion energy, a measure which can be determined from video recordings, influenced the other interactant's motion energy. In short, silent clips of dyadic conversations, we asked non-autistic participants to rate their impression of one of the two interactants, which was solely based on the outlines of both interactants. We expected that the amount of leading of the target interactant, their diagnostic status as well as the interaction of these factors would influence impression formation. We found that while the amount of leading had a positive effect on the impressions of non-autistic interactants, this was not true for interactants with ASC. This suggests that interpersonal synchrony of motion energy is one driver of less favourable impressions of autistic compared to non-autistic people.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences for chronic pain: a narrative review

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed everyday life, but the implications were most impactful for vulnerable populations, including patients with chronic pain. Moreover, persistent pain is increasingly recognised as a key manifestation of long COVID. This narrative review explores the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for chronic pain. Publications were identified related to the COVID-19 pandemic influence on the burden of chronic pain, development of new-onset pain because of long COVID with proposed mechanisms and COVID-19 vaccines and pain interventions. Broadly, mechanisms underlying pain due to SARS-CoV-2 infection could be caused by 'systemic inflammatory-immune mechanisms', 'direct neuropathic mechanisms' or 'secondary mechanisms due to the viral infection or treatment'. Existing chronic pain populations were variably impacted and social determinants of health appeared to influence the degree of effect. SARS-CoV-2 infection increased the absolute numbers of patients with pain and headache. In the acute phase, headache as a presenting symptom predicted a milder course. New-onset chronic pain was reportedly common and likely involves multiple mechanisms; however, its prevalence decreases over time and symptoms appear to fluctuate. Patients requiring intensive support were particularly susceptible to long COVID symptoms. Some evidence suggests steroid exposure (often used for pain interventions) may affect vaccine efficacy, but there is no evidence of clinical repercussions to date. Although existing chronic pain management could help with symptomatic relief, there is a need to advance research focusing on mechanism-based treatments within the domain of multidisciplinary care.

Seasonal Changes in Midlife Women'S Percentage Body Fat: A 1-Year Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this longitudinal, observational study was to examine whether age and seasonal changes in sedentary activity (sedAct), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and energy intake (EI) predict changes in body composition among midlife women. We hypothesized that reductions in MVPA and increases in sedAct and EI in winter, along with greater baseline age would predict increases in percentage body fat (%BF) across seasons.

DESIGN

This study used a longitudinal, within-subjects design. Setting: This study took place in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants included 52 midlife women (aged 40-60 years) who were observed over the course of one year.

MEASUREMENTS

Percentage body fat measures were obtained via whole body Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry. Participants were scanned once per season. We measured EI using the ASA24®. We used a GTX3 accelerometer to measure physical activity. Each season, participants wore the monitors for 7 days, 12 hours per day. All measures began in summer.

RESULTS

Results of hierarchical multiple regression (MR) analyses showed that age increases (β = 0.310, p = 0.021) and summer-to-fall increases in EI (β = 0.427, p = 0.002) predicted seasonal increases in %BF (R2 = .36, F(5, 42)= 4.66, p = 0.02). Changes in MVPA and sedAct were not significant predictors. Repeated measures ANCOVA revealed that summer (M = 37.7263, 95% CI [35.8377, 39.6149]) to winter (M = 38.1463, 95% CI [36.1983, 40.0942]) increases in %BF are not reversed by spring (M = 37.8761, 95% CI [35.9365, 39.8157]).

CONCLUSIONS

To minimize increases in %BF and maintain health, midlife women, particularly older women, should be encouraged to pay extra attention to their diet in the fall months.

Single-Cell Profiling of an In Vitro Model of Human Interneuron Development Reveals Temporal Dynamics of Cell Type Production and Maturation

GABAergic interneurons are essential for neural circuit function, and their loss or dysfunction is implicated in human neuropsychiatric disease. In vitro methods for interneuron generation hold promise for studying human cellular and functional properties and, ultimately, for therapeutic cell replacement. Here we describe a protocol for generating cortical interneurons from hESCs and analyze the properties and maturation time course of cell types using single-cell RNA-seq. We find that the cell types produced mimic in vivo temporal patterns of neuron and glial production, with immature progenitors and neurons observed early and mature cortical neurons and glial cell types produced late. By comparing the transcriptomes of immature interneurons to those of more mature neurons, we identified genes important for human interneuron differentiation. Many of these genes were previously implicated in neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Improving acne keloidalis nuchae with targeted ultraviolet B treatment: a prospective, randomized, split-scalp comparison study

BACKGROUND

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a chronic scarring folliculitis with fibrotic papules on the occipital scalp. Its treatment is limited and unsatisfactory.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether targeted ultraviolet B (tUVB) phototherapy will (i) improve the clinical appearance of AKN and (ii) induce extracellular matrix remodelling in affected lesions.

METHODS

Eleven patients with AKN were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, split-scalp comparison study. One randomly selected side of the scalp was treated with tUVB up to three times weekly for 8 weeks. After week 8, both sides were treated for eight additional weeks. Assessment included lesion counts in two 3 × 3-cm regions of interest (ROIs), one on each side of the scalp (ROI-1: tUVB weeks 0-16, ROI-2: tUVB weeks 9-16), patient self-assessment and analysis of MMP1, MMP9, TGFB1 and COL1A1 mRNA expression by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Before treatment, the mean lesion count was similar between tUVB-treated and untreated sides (14·8 vs. 15·0). After 8 weeks of tUVB, the mean lesion count decreased significantly to 9·4 ± 1·2 (P =  0·03), with no change on the untreated side. With continued treatment, the mean lesion count in ROI-1 decreased further to 7 ± 1·5 (P = 0·04) after 16 weeks of tUVB.

CONCLUSIONS

tUVB significantly improved the clinical appearance of AKN, led to patient satisfaction and was well tolerated.

Sleep quality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: longitudinal trajectories and biobehavioral correlates

The present study examined changes in sleep quality following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and investigated associations with biobehavioral factors. Individuals undergoing HSCT for hematologic malignancies (N=228) completed measures of sleep quality and psychological symptoms pre-transplant and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-transplant. Circulating inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) were also assessed. Sleep quality was poorest at one month post-transplant, improving and remaining relatively stable after 3 months post-transplant. However, approximately half of participants continued to experience significant sleep disturbance at 6 and 12 months post-transplant. Mixed-effects linear regression models indicated that depression and anxiety were associated with poorer sleep quality, while psychological well-being was associated with better sleep. Higher circulating levels of IL-6 were also linked with poorer sleep. Subject-level fixed effects models demonstrated that among individual participants, changes in depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being were associated with corresponding changes in sleep after covarying for the effects of time since transplant. Sleep disturbance was most severe when depression and anxiety were greatest, and psychological well-being was lowest. Findings indicate that sleep disturbance is a persistent problem during the year following HSCT. Patients experiencing depression or anxiety and those with elevated inflammation may be at particular risk for poor sleep.

Isotretinoin increases skin-surface levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in patients treated for severe acne

BACKGROUND

A clear-cut need exists for safe and effective alternatives to the use of isotretinoin in severe acne. Lack of data regarding the specifics of isotretinoin's mechanism of action has hampered progress in this area. Recently, the protein neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been identified as a mediator of the apoptotic effect of isotretinoin on sebocytes.

OBJECTIVES

To establish further the clinical relevance of NGAL and to elucidate the factors that induce NGAL expression in sebocytes.

METHODS

Methods were developed to isolate and quantify skin-surface levels of NGAL from normal subjects and patients with acne undergoing treatment with isotretinoin.

RESULTS

Patients with acne were found to have higher skin levels of NGAL compared with normal subjects. Studies in SEB-1 sebocytes indicate that NGAL expression is increased in response to Propionibacterium acnes and interleukin (IL)-1β. In patients, isotretinoin increases NGAL levels by 2·4-fold on the skin surface and this increase precedes decreases in sebum and P. acnes counts.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support the hypothesis that NGAL is an important mediator of the early effects of isotretinoin on the sebaceous glands and provide insights into the mechanisms that regulate NGAL expression in the skin.

TRAIL contributes to the apoptotic effect of 13-cis retinoic acid in human sebaceous gland cells

BACKGROUND

The full mechanism of action of isotretinoin [13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis RA)] in treating acne is unknown. 13-cis RA induces key genes in sebocytes that are involved in apoptosis, including Tumor necrosis factor Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL).

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we investigated the role of 13-cis RA-induced TRAIL within SEB-1 sebocytes.

METHODS

Using 13-cis RA and recombinant human TRAIL (rhTRAIL) protein, we assessed induction of TRAIL and apoptosis in SEB-1 sebocytes, normal keratinocytes and patient skin biopsies.

RESULTS

Treatment with rhTRAIL protein increased TUNEL-positive staining in SEB-1 sebocytes. TRAIL siRNA significantly decreased the percentage of TUNEL-positive SEB-1 sebocytes in response to 13-cis RA treatment. Furthermore, TRAIL expression increased in the skin of patients with acne after 1 week of isotretinoin therapy compared with baseline. TRAIL expression localized within sebaceous glands. Unlike sebocytes, TRAIL protein expression was not increased in normal human epidermal keratinocytes in response to 13-cis RA, nor did rhTRAIL induce apoptosis in keratinocytes, suggesting that TRAIL is key in the sebocyte-specific apoptotic effects of 13-cis RA.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, our data suggest that TRAIL, like the neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, is involved in mediating 13-cis RA apoptosis of sebocytes.

Ultrasound-facilitated formalin fixation of biological specimens

In a previous study, we showed that ultrasound can dramatically reduce the time required for tissue fixation in formalin. It generally is believed that ultrasound increases the speed of tissue fixation in two possible ways: 1) increasing the speed of penetration of fixative molecules into tissue samples and 2) increasing the speed of cross-linking reactions. We addressed here the second possible way by using protein solutions and cultured cells, which minimized the effects of the penetration factor. Proteins or cultured cells in solution were fixed with formalin with or without ultrasound irradiation. Fixed proteins and cell lysates then were separated by SDS-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis and subjected to Western blotting to examine cross-linking formation in certain proteins. Unexpectedly, irradiation with ultrasound did not produce an observable difference in the rate of cross-linking in protein solutions. In similar experiments using cultured cells, however, we observed a significant reduction in recovery of certain proteins from cells fixed by formalin under the influence of ultrasound, which indicated that the ultrasound fixation procedure accelerated cross-linking formation within cells. Studies on protein and cell fixation without ultrasound showed that cross-linking formation was closely related to incubation temperature, which indicates that the heating function, which is inherently associated with ultrasound is another major factor in the ability of ultrasound to accelerate cross-linking.

Immunophenotyping of chimeric cells in localized scleroderma

OBJECTIVE

Localized scleroderma causes thickening of the skin due to excessive collagen deposition. This condition has clinical and histopathological similarities to chronic graft-vs-host disease. We wanted to identify whether chimeric cells are present in the affected tissue in localized scleroderma and to further investigate the role of chimerism by immunophenotyping the chimeric cells. We hypothesize that the presence of chimerism and immunotypic chimeric cells will lend to an understanding of the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma and possible mechanisms by which chimeric cells participate in autoimmunity.

METHODS

We studied skin biopsies from 18 localized scleroderma patients and compared them with concurrent biopsies from unaffected skin in a subset of patients. Skin biopsies from morphoea and linear scleroderma patients were analysed for the presence of chimeric cells using male-female (X, Y) differences. Cell surface markers (CD4, CD8, CD19/20, CD68, S100, CD14 and CD56) were determined for cell phenotyping of chimeric cells.

RESULTS

Overall, the affected tissue contained a greater number of lymphocytic inflammatory cells. In the affected tissue, 38% of the total chimeric cells were CD68+ (dendritic cell, monocyte and macrophage marker), 29% Langerin/S100+ (dendritic cell marker), 26% CD8+ (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte marker), 20% CD19/20+ (B-lymphocyte marker), 14% CD4+ (T-helper lymphocyte) and 0% CD56+ (natural killer cell marker).

CONCLUSIONS

We report that not only are chimeric cells present in affected localized scleroderma lesions but they also are more likely to be dendritic cells and B lymphocytes suggesting a role in the pathogenesis of localized scleroderma.

Juvenile localized scleroderma: clinical and epidemiological features in 750 children. An international study

OBJECTIVE

Juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) includes a number of conditions often grouped together. With the long-term goal of developing uniform classification criteria, we studied the epidemiological, clinical and immunological features of children with JLS followed by paediatric rheumatology and dermatology centres.

METHODS

A large, multicentre, multinational study was conducted by collecting information on the demographics, family history, triggering environmental factors, clinical and laboratory features, and treatment of patients with JLS.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and fifty patients with JLS from 70 centres were enrolled into the study. The disease duration at diagnosis was 18 months. Linear scleroderma (LS) was the most frequent subtype (65%), followed by plaque morphea (PM) (26%), generalized morphea (GM) (7%) and deep morphea (DM) (2%). As many as 15% of patients had a mixed subtype. Ninety-one patients (12%) had a positive family history for rheumatic or autoimmune diseases; 100 (13.3%) reported environmental events as possible trigger. ANA was positive in 42.3% of the patients, with a higher prevalence in the LS-DM subtype than in the PM-GM subtype. Scl70 was detected in the sera of 3% of the patients, anticentromere antibody in 2%, anti-double-stranded DNA in 4%, anti-cardiolipin antibody in 13% and rheumatoid factor in 16%. Methotrexate was the drug most frequently used, especially during the last 5 yr.

CONCLUSION

This study represents the largest collection of patients with JLS ever reported. The insidious onset of the disease, the delay in diagnosis, the recognition of mixed subtype and the better definition of the other subtypes should influence our efforts in educating trainees and practitioners and help in developing a comprehensive classification system for this syndrome.

Radiographic progression in children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To assess disease progression on hand/wrist x rays from children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

Initial and subsequent films of 13 white children (10 girls) were read blind by a paediatric radiologist for the presence of joint space narrowing (JSN), erosions, and relative carpal length (RCL).

RESULTS

One child had subcutaneous nodules; one (of 11) was rheumatoid factor positive; six were ANA positive. Median age at diagnosis was 10.7 years (2.5 to 15.9). Median number of involved joints (swelling, pain, or decreased range of motion) at diagnosis was 16 (6 to 33). Four initial x rays had either erosions or JSN. Subsequent x rays were done at (median) 13.3 (8.3 to 24.9) months after initial x rays. One of 10 subsequent x rays had shortened RCL, and six of 13 were worse than the initial ones. Four of these developed new erosions, one had increased number of erosions, and one developed new JSN.

CONCLUSIONS

About half the children with polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis will have evidence of radiographic progression within two years after diagnosis. Thus newly diagnosed children are at high risk of substantial joint destruction and potential disability, emphasising the need for prompt treatment.

Cell autonomous regulation of multiple Dishevelled-dependent pathways by mammalian Nkd

Genetic studies have identified Drosophila Naked Cuticle (Nkd) as an antagonist of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, but its mechanism of action remains obscure [Zeng, W., Wharton, K. A., Jr., Mack, J. A., Wang, K., Gadbaw, M., et al. (2000) Nature (London) 403, 789--795]. Here we have cloned a cDNA encoding a mammalian homolog of Drosophila Nkd, mNkd, and demonstrated that mNkd interacts directly with Dishevelled. Dishevelled is an intracellular mediator of both the canonical Wnt pathway and planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway. Activation of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase has been implicated in the PCP pathway. We showed that mNkd acts in a cell-autonomous manner not only to inhibit the canonical Wnt pathway but also to stimulate c-Jun-N-terminal kinase activity. Expression of mNkd disrupted convergent extension in Xenopus, consistent with a role for mNkd in the PCP pathway. These data suggest that mNkd may act as a switch to direct Dishevelled activity toward the PCP pathway, and away from the canonical Wnt pathway.

Increased mortality in adults with a history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

To assess mortality in a population-based cohort of adults with a history of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

METHODS

The Rochester Epidemiology Project database was used to identify all cases of JRA diagnosed among Rochester, Minnesota residents under the age of 16 between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1993. Fifty-seven patients in this cohort are now adults (ages 18-53 years, mean age 34.3 years), and this subgroup was contacted for a long-term followup study. The average length of followup from the time of diagnosis was 25.6 years.

RESULTS

Four deaths occurred in this cohort of 57 adults with a history of JRA. All 4 deceased patients had other autoimmune illnesses and died of complications of these diseases. The observed frequency of 4 deaths was significantly greater (P < 0.0026 by one-sample log-rank test) than the 1 death that would be expected among Minnesota whites of similar age and sex, and corresponds to a mortality rate of 0.27 deaths per 100 years of patient followup compared with an expected mortality rate of 0.068 deaths per 100 years of followup in the general population.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate a significant, unexpected increase in mortality in this population-based cohort of adults with a history of JRA in comparison with the rate in the general population. The deaths in this group were all associated with other autoimmune disorders, suggesting that special emphasis should be given to the diagnosis and treatment of other autoimmune diseases, including immunodeficiencies, in JRA patients. The frequency of deaths in this cohort suggests that JRA patients are at substantial risk for mortality, and highlights the need for longitudinal followup and care into adulthood.

Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the lung: a clinicopathologic study of five patients

Primary anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is a rare malignancy in the lung. Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma characteristically involves the lymph nodes or skin, with few reports from other sites. We studied the clinical and pathologic features of five cases of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma limited to the lungs. The patients were three women and two men aged 27 to 66 years (mean, 44.6 y) The tumors ranged in size from 1.1 to 5 cm. All patients were CD 30 (Ki-1) positive and CD 15 (LeuM-1) negative. Epithelial membrane antigen immunoreactivity was seen in two patients. Epstein-Barr virus was not detected by immunohistochemistry (four patients tested) or by polymerase chain reaction studies (three patients tested). The immunophenotypes were T cell (n = 3) and null (n = 2). Gene rearrangement studies supported the immunophenotypic findings. One patient who had underlying HIV infection died of infectious complications. One patient died at 6 months. Two patients developed recurrent disease and are alive after 42 and 51 months of follow-up. The remaining patient is alive at 8 years of follow-up without evidence of disease. ALCL can mimic metastatic or primary carcinoma and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of large cell neoplasms of the lung.

Case studies in pathology from the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

The National Museum of Health and Medicine was founded as the Army Medical Museum during the American Civil War to document the effects of war wounds and disease on the human body. Since then, the Museum has created a collection of documented pathologic specimens that can be used to study the gross and microscopic appearance of disease conditions. The Museum's collections are a vital link to the past and the future of medical research and form a unique national medical repository that is used continuously for research, education, and exhibit purposes. Today, the Museum in association with its parent institution, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, provides access to over 130 years of documented medical specimens. These specimens allow the unique opportunity to re-examine historical classification systems and disease diagnoses. The case of subacute chronic osteomyelitis with cortical sequestration of Private J. Potter from the Civil War is presented here.

The cost of disease eradication. Smallpox and bovine tuberculosis

Although eradication is the ideal approach to reduce the economic and human health costs of disease, there may be both short- and long-term consequences. A $300 million effort succeeded in completely eradicating smallpox in less than ten years. The campaign was effective because variola virus produced acute illness, had no carrier stage or non-human reservoirs, and had an effective vaccine that was used in combination with international surveillance and public education. Bovine tuberculosis was completely eradicated in many U.S. herds at a cost of $450 million over 50 years using a "test and slaughter" program combined with meat inspection. Mycobacterium bovis often does not produce acute disease, persists in the carrier stage, has multiple non-human reservoirs, and easily crosses species. No effective vaccine or centralized global surveillance or eradication programs currently exist. Control measures result in significant economic losses. Smallpox eradication had limited economic consequences but has left much of world's population highly susceptible to zoonotic orthopoxviruses and to the use of smallpox as a biologic weapon. The primary threat of M. bovis exists in wildlife that share watering holes or pasture land with domestic stock. In the developed world, surveillance can minimize risks, but one-third of the world's population lacks effective agricultural and food safety programs, leaving them at substantial risk for zoonotic infection by M. bovis.

Trichomoniasis in pregnant human immunodeficiency virus-infected and human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected congolese women: prevalence, risk factors, and association with low birth weight

OBJECTIVE

We sought to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for vaginal trichomoniasis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected and human immunodeficiency virus-uninfected pregnant Congolese women and its relationship to pregnancy outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a nested case-control study of 215 infected and 206 uninfected mothers who responded to questionnaires, underwent sexually transmitted disease testing (including culture for trichomoniasis shortly after delivery), and underwent assessment of infant outcomes. Maternal variables and birth outcomes were assessed according to presence or absence of trichomoniasis and human immunodeficiency virus.

RESULTS

Trichomoniasis was present in 18.6% of human immunodeficiency virus-positive and 10.2% of human immunodeficiency virus-negative women, respectively (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-3.6), and was significantly associated with low birth weight (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.5). In multivariate analyses trichomoniasis remained associated with low birth weight, and adjustments were made for other risk factors associated with low birth weight.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest an association between trichomoniasis and low birth weight independent of human immunodeficiency virus infection and other risk factors. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of antenatal screening and treatment for trichomoniasis on pregnancy outcomes.

Pedal osteosarcoma in a donkey

An 18 1/2-year-old castrated male donkey with progressively worsening right forelimb lameness presented with a mass on the distal dorsal aspect of its P3 bone. Grossly, the firm, gritty mass was infiltrative, disrupted the contours of the overlying hoof wall, and had mottled and cavitated areas on cut surface. Histologically, the growth was composed of densely cellular sheets of mildly pleomorphic mesenchymal cells forming irregularly shaped islands of poorly mineralized osteoid. The neoplastic mass had patchy areas of necrosis. The diagnostic possibilities considered for this donkey's mass include osteosarcoma, osteoma, ossifying fibroma, and fibrous dysplasia. Careful consideration of the gross and histological characteristics of this donkey's mass support a diagnosis of osteosarcoma.

Pathology of human immunodeficiency virus infection: infectious conditions

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the subsequent derangement of host immunity place affected patients at risk for secondary infections. Some of the secondary pathogens occur with such frequency or are so rare in the non-immunosuppressed population that they have become part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classification for HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other infectious agents not yet included in the CDC definition are being reported in the HIV-infected population with increased frequency. General observations of the degree of immunosuppression associated with specific secondary infections have been useful in developing classification systems for HIV disease such as that of the CDC. However, the specific alterations in host immunity that promote infection with specific secondary pathogens are generally unknown. Geographic differences in the types and frequency of secondary infections also have been reported. Variation in strains of HIV, effect of malnutrition, lack of appropriate medical treatment, prevalence of virulent infectious diseases, and epidemiologic differences are possible contributing factors. Some infections that seemed likely to be closely associated with HIV infection have not occurred more frequently in HIV-infected patients. This review summarizes the histopathology of infectious conditions in the current CDC classification and highlights some conditions seen in HIV-infected individuals that are not currently HIV/AIDS-defining infections, yet may be seen by practicing pathologists.

Psychosocial outcomes and health status of adults who have had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled, population-based study

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to evaluate the physical and psychosocial impact of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) among a population-based cohort of adults who had the disease during childhood, compared with a control cohort of subjects with no history of JRA.

METHODS

The Rochester Epidemiology Project database was used to identify all cases of JRA (based on the American College of Rheumatology [formerly, the American Rheumatism Association] 1977 criteria) among Rochester, Minnesota residents first diagnosed between January 1, 1960 and December 31, 1993. Controls were age- and sex-matched to the cases as of the date of diagnosis of JRA. A pretested postal survey was mailed to all adult cases (whose date of birth was before December 31, 1975) and matched controls from the same population, to obtain information on socioeconomic issues and functional status (using the Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Health Status Questionnaire). The complete medical records of all cases and controls were reviewed to obtain information on demographics and clinical manifestations of JRA.

RESULTS

Of the 50 eligible cases, 44 (88%) responded to the survey. There were 102 age- and sex-matched controls (2-3 per case) who responded to the survey. Seventy-three percent of the cases had pauciarticular-onset JRA, 16% had polyarticular-onset JRA, and 11% had systemic-onset JRA. Average followup was 24.7 years and 24.5 years after the index date for cases and controls, respectively. Greater disability (P = 0.0002), more bodily pain (P = 0.0002), increased fatigue (P = 0.0112), poorer health perception (P = 0.0004), and decreased physical functioning (P = 0.0002) were reported by the cases compared with the controls. JRA cases reported significantly lower rates of employment (P = 0.015) and lower levels of exercise (P = 0.0002) than did controls. Level of educational achievement, annual income, health insurance status, and rate of pregnancy and childbirth were similar for both cases and controls.

CONCLUSION

Adults who have had JRA during childhood experience long-term physical and psychosocial impairment.

Pathology of human immunodeficiency virus infection: noninfectious conditions

Diagnostic anatomic pathologists play a crucial role in the battle against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Not only are they intimately involved in the treatment of individual patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but also they make important observations that result in the expansion of the scientific understanding of its pathogenesis. Pathologists studying tissue from patients with HIV infection should be familiar with the conditions to which these patients are susceptible. Although opportunistic infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality, noninfectious conditions frequently make substantial contributions to the disease course. Patients with HIV infection may be at increased risk for neoplastic disease. They do not, however, have an increased incidence of the most common tumors affecting the general population, such as breast, colon, and prostate carcinoma. Immunodeficiency results in increased susceptibility to malignant neoplasms, both by decreased immunologic response to abnormal cells and increased susceptibility to infection by viruses. All of the malignant neoplastic diseases that are Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) AIDS indicator conditions have been shown to have an association with a virus: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) with herpes hominis virus 8 (HHV-8), malignant lymphoma with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cervical carcinoma with human papilloma virus (HPV). Patients with HIV infection also can develop reactive processes that are attributable to direct effects of HIV or immune system alterations. Such conditions include salivary gland cystic lymphoepithelial lesion, lymphadenopathy, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis, encephalopathy, enteropathy, nephropathy, hepatic conditions, dermatologic conditions and anemia.

Neuroimaging--autopsy correlations in AIDS

This article is a brief review of the radiologic-pathologic correlation of central nervous lesions occurring in patients with AIDS. The major discussions of the imaging appearance and radiologic differential diagnosis have been presented elsewhere in this issue. Our emphasis is on the gross pathologic correlations that are only possible with autopsy materials. We will illustrate the opportunistic neoplasms such as primary CNS lymphoma. This article also discusses the imaging and pathology of the common opportunistic infections. Toxoplasmosis, an obligate intracellular protozoan, is the most common CNS infection producing a mass lesion in AIDS. However, AIDS encephalitis, a direct infection of the brain by the HIV-1 virus itself, may actually be more prevalent. Other viral infections occurring in AIDS include progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Fungal diseases infecting the central nervous system of AIDS patients include cryptococcus, aspergillosis, and mucormycosis. The primary purpose of this article is to demonstrate how the gross pathology correlates with the radiologic images.

Active replication of HIV-1 at the lymphoepithelial surface of the tonsil

Cells that are infected with HIV-1 were visualized at the mucosal surface of the nasopharyngeal and palatine tonsils in 14 specimens from patients with CD4+ T-cell counts of 200 to 900/microliter and 2- to 10-year histories of HIV-1 infection. Most of the cells with intracellular HIV-1 protein were small but multinucleated. The majority of these syncytia could be double labeled for HIV-1 RNA and a dendritic cell marker S100. In the palatine tonsil, the infected cells were not found in the stratified squamous epithelium that is adjacent to the pharynx. Instead, the S100+ infected syncytia were localized to the surface of tonsil invaginations or crypts. This mucosa, termed lymphoepithelium, contains antigen-transporting M cells that lie above regions where S100+ dendritic cells are juxtaposed with CD4+ lymphocytes. Likewise, infected cells were found in lymphoepithelium and not respiratory epithelium of nasopharyngeal tonsils or adenoids. We propose that lymphoepithelia, the histological term that describes the specialized regions where antigens access mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, are sites where HIV-1 replication can be enhanced in syncytia derived from dendritic cells.

Prevention of acute emesis in cancer patients following high-dose cisplatin with the combination of oral dolasetron and dexamethasone

PURPOSE

Dolasetron is a 5-HT3 antagonist antiemetic with active oral and intravenous formulations. The effects of this class are enhanced when combined with dexamethasone. This study tested the ability of the combination of oral dolasetron 200 mg and oral dexamethasone 20 mg to prevent acute emesis in cancer patients receiving initial cisplatin at doses > or = 70 mg/m2. Additionally, patients were randomly assigned to receive a second dosage of the regimen 16 hours later to improve control of acute symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 75 patients were entered, with 38 randomized to the two-dose regimen. Thirty-five percent were women and 77% had lung cancer.

RESULTS

Overall, the regimen prevented acute vomiting in 76% (95% confidence interval, 65% to 85%), including 74% of 35 patients who received cisplatin at doses > or = 100 mg/m2. There was no observed difference in emesis prevention between the one-dose (76%) and two-dose (76%) regimens (95% confidence interval for the difference, -20% to 19%). The median time to the onset of emesis was 19 hours for the one-dose regimen and 17 hours for the two-dose regimen in those patients with emesis. Headache occurred in 11% who received one dose and 16% who received two doses.

CONCLUSION

The combination of oral dolasetron 200 mg and dexamethasone 20 mg given only once prevented acute emesis in 76% of patients who received cisplatin > or = 70 mg/m2. Administration of a second dose of the regimen did not improve the observed prevention rate or delay the time to emesis. This one-dose oral regimen has comparable or better effectiveness than reported results of intravenous combination regimens in preventing cisplatin-induced vomiting and merits further study and use.

Using research for successful Medicare and Medicaid risk marketing

Medicare/Medicaid risk marketing is a vital business challenge, one that countless managed care organizations are facing right now. Early entry into new markets and aggressive participation in existing markets are essential to meet competitive pressures. Health plans intent on success in government risk programs should conduct research to learn the medical needs, wants, and desires of older persons in the geographic area they serve. Original, market-specific research yields critical marketing and clinical data that can be used to improve care and member satisfaction along with customer loyalty and retention.

Microsporidium-associated sinusitis

Two cases of biopsy-proven Microsporidium-associated chronic sinusitis in HIV-seropositive patients are presented. Spores of Septata intestinalis were identified by light microscopy and confirmed by electron microscopy in each case. Both patients displayed severe deficiencies of nasal mucosa CD4-positive cells, demonstrated by immunohistochemical methods. Only two other cases of Septata intestinalis-associated sinusitis have been reported previously. Our observations agree with the theory that functional defects in local mucosal immunity may partially explain the acquisition of opportunistic mucosal infections in many HIV-seropositive patients.

The epidemiology of morphea (localized scleroderma) in Olmsted County 1960-1993

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence, prevalence, survival rates, clinical manifestations, and longterm outcome of patients with morphea (localized scleroderma) and its subtypes over a 33 year period in Olmsted County, Minnesota.

METHODS

We used the unique data resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project to review all Olmsted County medical records with any potential diagnosis consistent with morphea (including plaque, generalized, bullous, linear, and deep entities) from 1960 through 1993.

RESULTS

We screened 1030 medical records and identified 82 (59 female; 23 male) cases of morphea first diagnosed between 1960 and 1993. All cases were followed until death or migration from Olmsted County, a total of 754 person-years of observation. The annual age and sex adjusted incidence rate per 100,000 population was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 2.1, 3.3). The incidence rate increased significantly over the 33 years (p = 0.0037) on an average of 3.6% per year. The prevalence (estimated using cumulative incidence) at 80 years of age was about 2/1000. 50% of the patients had a cutaneous softening or evidence of disease resolution by 3.8 years' duration. The shortest active disease duration was found in the plaque group (50% resolution or skin softening by 2.7 years) compared to 5.5 years in the deep group. Arthralgias, synovitis, uveitis, and joint contractures were more frequent in the linear and deep categories. Although 9 patients (11%) developed some disease related disability over the followup period, this was common (44%) in the deep group. No case of morphea developed severe internal organ involvement and none progressed to systemic sclerosis. The survival rate was not significantly different from the general population (p = 0.409).

CONCLUSION

Morphea, and its subtypes, are more common than previously recognized, and can lead to important disability.

Localized forms of scleroderma, including morphea, linear scleroderma, and eosinophilic fasciitis

Under the term localized scleroderma a spectrum of conditions is classified, ranging from localized plaques of morphea of cosmetic importance only, to deep lesions of linear scleroderma and eosinophilic fasciitis, which can result in considerable morbidity. The etiology is unknown; environmental, infectious, and autoimmune causes have been proposed. In the past year, a revised classification of morphea has been presented. Additional information relating to pathogenesis, laboratory studies, and associated manifestations is reviewed.

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in Rochester, Minnesota 1960-1993. Is the epidemiology changing?

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends in the incidence and prevalence of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in Rochester, Minnesota, over 33 years.

METHODS

The diagnostic retrieval system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project was utilized to screen medical records of all Rochester residents with any potential diagnoses of JRA from 1978 to 1993 (based on the American College of Rheumatology 1977 revised criteria). In addition, all cases of JRA from our previously identified cohort from 1960-1979 were verified, and the 2 data sets were combined, resulting in an incidence cohort spanning 33 years (1960-1993).

RESULTS

Of the 1,240 medical records screened, we identified 65 cases of JRA diagnosed between 1960 and 1993 (48 females, 17 males). The average followup for cases was 12.7 years (range 0-34 years) for a total of 833 person-years of observation. A bimodal distribution of age at diagnosis was observed, with peaks between 0 and 4 years and 9 and 15 years. Seventy-two percent of patients had pauciarticular-onset, 17% had polyarticular-onset, and 11% had systemic-onset disease. Progression of pauciarticular to polyarticular disease occurred in 11% of the cases. The overall age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate was 11.7 per 100,000 population (95% confidence intervals 8.7, 14.8). The incidence rate per 100,000 population was 15.0, 14.1, and 7.8 for the time periods 1960-1969, 1970-1979, and 1980-1993, respectively (P = 0.024). A 3-year, centered, moving average, which was used to display time trends in incidence, suggested a cyclical pattern, with incidence peaks in 1967, 1975, and 1987.

CONCLUSION

An overall decrease in the incidence rate over the last decade was observed, most marked in the pauciarticular- and systemic-onset subtypes. This decrease, along with the observed cyclical pattern, suggest that environmental factors may influence disease frequency.

Replication of HIV-1 in dendritic cell-derived syncytia at the mucosal surface of the adenoid

Human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) replicates actively in infected individuals, yet cells with intracellular depots of viral protein are observed only infrequently. Many cells expressing the HIV-1 Gag protein were detected at the surface of the nasopharyngeal tonsil or adenoid. This infected mucosal surface contained T cells and dendritic cells, two cell types that together support HIV-1 replication in culture. The infected cells were multinucleated syncytia and expressed the S100 and p55 dendritic cell markers. Eleven of the 13 specimens analyzed were from donors who did not have symptoms of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The interaction of dendritic cells and T cells in mucosa may support HIV-1 replication, even in subclinical stages of infection.

Takayasu's arteritis presenting with unilateral digital clubbing

Unilateral clubbing has been associated with local vascular lesions of the arm, axilla, and thoracic outlet and with hemiplegia. We describe a patient with Takayasu's arteritis, a disease that affects the aorta and its major branches, who presented with unilateral digital clubbing. A review of the literature on unilateral clubbing is included.

Classification of morphea (localized scleroderma)

OBJECTIVE

To classify and describe morphea (localized scleroderma).

DESIGN

A review of morphea and its subtypes is presented.

RESULTS

The current classification of morphea is incomplete and confusing. As knowledge of the spectrum of disease continues to evolve, the controversy and confusing nature of its multiple subtypes present a challenge for the physician who encounters a patient with this condition. Thus, we propose that morphea be classified into the following five groups: plaque, generalized, bullous, linear, and deep. This classification, based on clinical morphologic findings, will simplify the diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

CONCLUSION

Morphea represents a wide variety of clinical entities that seen to be on the opposite end of the scleroderma spectrum from systemic sclerosis. The cutaneous lesions eventually evolve from a sclerotic stage to a nonindurated stage, and residual hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation follows. The histologic pattern in patients with morphea is similar to that in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. Although treatment is nonstandardized, hydroxychloroquine sulfate may be beneficial.

Gastrointestinal manifestations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: radiologic-pathologic correlation

Gastrointestinal diseases are common in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In this review, the radiologic and pathologic findings of these diseases in AIDS patients are illustrated with cases from the archives of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Diseases are categorized in two etiologic groups, opportunistic infections and AIDS-related neoplasms. Opportunistic infections include those caused by viral, fungal, protozoan, and bacterial pathogens. The AIDS-related neoplasms of primary importance are Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The radiologic findings of these gastrointestinal diseases are frequently nonspecific. However, interpretation of the images with knowledge of the underlying pathologic entities and the level of compromise of the immune system helps narrow the differential diagnosis and often helps identify the presumptive diagnosis.

Leprosy in five human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

We present five cases of leprosy in five human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals. The patients were five men between the ages of 18 and 45 years. The five patients presented with skin lesions; three patients with hypopigmented skin lesions, one with skin macules and a history of leprosy, and one with papular lesions. In one patient, there was bilateral "claw hands." Histologically, two cases were categorized as lepromatous leprosy, two as borderline tuberculoid, and one as borderline lepromatous. Follow-up information obtained in the five patients showed one patient had died, and the remaining four patients were alive and receiving antileprosy treatment.

[Resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mexican patients. I. Clinical features and risk factors]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the clinical manifestations associated with resistant M. tuberculosis infection and the antimicrobial resistance in isolates from Mexican patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Epidemiological surveillance.

PATIENTS

Tuberculosis confirmed cases.

METHODS

Primary resistance: no history of treatment prior to diagnosis. The following critical concentrations (micrograms/mL) were used for susceptibility: isoniazid 0.2 and 1; rifampin 1 and 5; ethambutol 5 and 10; streptomycin 2 and 10; ethionamide 5; kanamycin 6; and para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) 2 and 10.

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients with a mean age of 44.7 years were included; 54 men (64%) and 30 women (36%); most patients were from the Mexico City metropolitan area. In 34 patients there was clinical information available, 26 presented fever and weight loss and 8 respiratory symptoms. Fifty-nine patients (70%) were infected by pan-susceptible M. tuberculosis, and 25 (30%) by a resistant isolate; 17 (68%) of them were resistant to at least two drugs, 16 (64%) to isoniazid and rifampin. The proportion of resistance was: isoniazid 24%, rifampin 19%, streptomycin 12%, ethambutol 10%, PAS 9%, etionamide 7%, and kanamycin 6%. Of 47 patients without previous treatment, eight had a resistant microorganism (17%): 9% resistant to isoniazid, 6% to rifampin, 2% to streptomycin, 6% to PAS and 6% multiresistant. Of 37 patients with history of previous treatment for tuberculosis, 17 (46%) had a resistant isolate; 44% were resistant to isoniazid, 35% to rifampin, 24% to streptomycin, 19% to ethambutol, 12% to PAS and 35% multiresistant. Of the 84 patients, four were physicians infected by a resistant isolate, and seven HIV-infected patients, one with a multiresistant isolate, and another with isoniazid resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

Antimicrobial resistance among M. tuberculosis is alarmingly high in Mexico City; these results emphasize the importance of case detection and early isolation of patients.

A clinical and pathological comparison of the WHO and CDC case definitions for AIDS in Kinshasa, Zaïre: is passive surveillance valid?

OBJECTIVES

To compare the specificity of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definitions for AIDS in autopsy cases from Zaïre.

SETTING

Mama Yemo Hospital and University Hospital morgues in Kinshasa, and Karawa Hospital in Equateur Region, Zaïre.

METHODS

Autopsy cases with a clinical diagnosis of AIDS on the death certificate or chart were studied. Evaluation included post-mortem HIV-1 serology, chart review for specific AIDS-related symptoms and signs, and application of WHO and CDC case criteria to the clinical and autopsy diagnoses.

RESULTS

Of the 68 diagnosed AIDS cases, 98% fulfilled WHO criteria for AIDS and 93% fulfilled both WHO and CDC criteria. All cases fulfilling both criteria were HIV-1-seropositive. Opportunistic infections accounted for 84% of CDC AIDS-defining conditions. Disseminated tuberculosis was the most frequent (41%) specific diagnosis; Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was rare (< 2%).

CONCLUSIONS

There was good concordance between WHO and CDC case definitions. A diagnosis of AIDS on the chart or death certificate is adequate for surveillance purposes in this population.

Risk for perinatal HIV-1 transmission according to maternal immunologic, virologic, and placental factors

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate how maternal and obstetric factors interact to influence mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transmission.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational cohort study of children born to HIV-infected women to determine child's HIV infection status. The analysis then compared peripartum maternal, placental, and obstetric variables between HIV-1 transmitter and nontransmitter women.

SETTING

Two large maternity wards in Kinshasa, Zaire.

PARTICIPANTS

Consecutive sample of 324 HIV-1-infected women at delivery, with 254 HIV-seronegative women followed up as control subjects. PRINCIPAL OUTCOME MEASURES: HIV infection status of children, to classify each woman as an HIV-1 transmitter or nontransmitter.

RESULTS

The highest transmission risk (TR) was associated with maternal p24 antigenemia (TR, 71%; relative risk [RR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7 to 5.2) and maternal CD8+ lymphocyte counts of at least 1.80 x 10(9)/L (1800/microL) (TR, 50%; RR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.2). Among women with CD8+ lymphocyte counts of less than 1.80 x 10(9)/L, CD4+ lymphocyte counts of less than 0.60 x 10(9)/L were a risk factor (TR, 29%; RR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2 to 4.2). In women with neither high CD8+ nor low CD4+ lymphocyte counts, placental membrane inflammation was associated with perinatal transmission (TR, 40%; RR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.3 to 13.7). In women with neither p24 antigenemia, high CD8+ or low CD4+ lymphocyte counts, nor placental membrane inflammation, the transmission risk was only 7%. Additional correlates of transmission included maternal anemia and fever, but not maternal sexually transmitted diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifiable subgroups of HIV-1-infected women based on maternal and placental characteristics had between a 7% and 71% risk of perinatal HIV-1 transmission. Not only the overall rate of transmission but the impact of different risk factors for transmission appear to vary over the course of HIV infection.

Conjunctival rhinosporidiosis. Report of three cases from Zaire

The authors report three cases of conjunctival rhinosporidiosis from Zaire, two of which are believed to be the first documented in the northeastern part of the country. All patients were males. Two patients were very young children, respectively 5 and 6 years old. The third patient was a 35-year-old man. The diagnosis was based on histopathology which revealed the characteristic features of Rhinosporidium seeberi. Total excision was the elective treatment. The disease recurred eleven months later in one case, probably from local dissemination of the parasite during surgery.

Gentian violet, ketoconazole and nystatin in oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis in Zairian AIDS patients

A randomized un-blinded study on the treatment of oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis was conducted in Kinshasa (Zaire), among 141 inpatients with AIDS and oropharyngeal candidiasis, of whom 136 also had esophageal candidiasis. The study compared the efficacy of gentian violet mouth washes (1.5 ml 0.5% aqueous solution b.i.d.), oral ketoconazole (200 mg/day, after a meal) and nystatin mouth washes (200.000 U oral suspension q.i.d.). Patients treated with mouth washes swallowed their medication after mouth washing. Patients enrolled in this study had a very high mortality (probability of death: 41.6% after 14 days). After 14 days, 72 patients could be evaluated. At that time, oropharyngeal lesions had disappeared in similar proportions of patients treated with gentian violet (11/26, 42%) and ketoconazole (10/23, 43%), and in a lower proportion of patients treated with nystatin (2/23, 9%; p less than 0.05). In esophageal candidiasis, ketoconazole seemed more efficient than both other treatments: esophageal lesions had disappeared in 5 (24%) of the 21 patients on ketoconazole, compared to less than 10% of patients on both other treatments (p = 0.07). The suboptimal results observed with all 3 treatments could be explained by the profound immunosuppression of patients enrolled in the study. This study suggests that gentian violet is effective treatment for oropharyngeal candidiasis. As it is very cheap (0.5 US$/treatment course in Kinshasa), we suggest that its use should be assessed in larger studies.

HIV-1 seropositivity and mortality at University Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire, 1987

This study examines the impact of HIV-1 infection and AIDS on 500 of 563 consecutive deaths at University Hospital, Kinshasa, Zaire, in late 1987. HIV-1 seroprevalence was 31% for the entire population and 43% for the 247 adults. Forty-two (38%) of the 110 HIV-1-seropositive adult deaths occurred in those between the ages of 25 and 34 years. The mean age of death for seropositives was 36 years, 7.5 years less than seronegative deaths. AIDS and AIDS-associated diagnoses such as cryptococcal meningitis, chronic diarrhea and pneumonia accounted for 42% of all adult deaths and 74% of all HIV-1-seropositive adult deaths. Seventeen per cent of 50 sera initially negative by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were ultimately found to be HIV-1-seropositive by Western blot or p24 antigen testing. The data indicate that HIV-1 infection and AIDS contribute significantly to adult mortality in Kinshasa population and that sensitivity of ELISA tests decreases in terminal HIV-1 infection.

Autosomal dominant granulomatous arthritis, uveitis, skin rash, and synovial cysts

In 1985, Blau reported a family with 11 members in four generations affected by granulomatous arthritis, iritis, skin rash, and periarticular synovial cysts. We report a second family with these abnormalities, thereby confirming this syndrome as a distinct familial entity with transmission compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. Affected members in our family included a mother and two daughters. Disease onset was at 10 months to 8 years of age. Each had uveitis, symmetric polyarthritis, and synovial cysts overlying the ankle and wrist joints. In addition, both daughters had an intermittent generalized erythematous papular rash that on biopsy revealed noncaseating granulomatous infiltration. All three patients improved during alternate-day steroid therapy. Recognition of this disorder as distinct from other, more common causes of arthritis is important because of the apparent autosomal dominant transmission and because of the excellent responses to low-dose steroid therapy.

Kawasaki syndrome

Kawasaki syndrome is an acute, self-limited illness of young children which is characterized by prolonged fever, mucositis, skin changes, and cervical lymphadenopathy. Most investigators favor a microbial agent or agents as the trigger of KS followed by an immune-mediated vasculitis with a predilection for the coronary arteries. Serious complications include coronary artery aneurysms, aneurysmal thrombosis, and death. Aspirin has been the conventional treatment for KS, but it has not been shown to alter the basic pathology. Recently intact intravenous gamma globulin has been shown to reduce the frequency of coronary artery abnormalities. Definitive therapy of KS, however, awaits the discovery of its cause and pathogenesis.

Perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 to infants of seropositive women in Zaire

To examine perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Zaire, we screened 8108 women who gave birth at one of two Kinshasa hospitals that serve populations of markedly different socioeconomic status. For up to one year, we followed the 475 infants of the 466 seropositive women (5.8 percent of those screened) and the 616 infants of 606 seronegative women matched for age, parity, and hospital. On the basis of clinical criteria, 85 of the seropositive women (18 percent) had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The infants of seropositive mothers, as compared with those of seronegative mothers, were more frequently premature, had lower birth weights, and had a higher death rate in the first 28 days (6.2 vs. 1.2 percent; P less than 0.0001). The patterns were similar at the two hospitals. Twenty-one percent of the cultures for HIV-1 of 92 randomly selected cord-blood samples from infants of seropositive women were positive. T4-cell counts were performed in 37 seropositive women, and cord blood from their infants was cultured. The cultures were positive in the infants of 6 of the 18 women with antepartum T4 counts of 400 or fewer cells per cubic millimeter, as compared with none of the infants of the 19 women with more than 400 T4 cells per cubic millimeter (P = 0.02). One year later, 21 percent of the infants of the seropositive mothers had died as compared with 3.8 percent of the control infants (P less than 0.001), and 7.9 percent of their surviving infants had AIDS. We conclude that the mortality rates among children of seropositive mothers are high regardless of socioeconomic status, and that perinatal transmission of HIV-1 has a major adverse effect on infant survival in Kinshasa.

Joint pain in children. When is it serious?

Diagnosis of the cause of joint pain in children depends on the physician's ability to distinguish benign from more serious joint conditions. Benign conditions include trauma, overuse syndromes, hypermobility syndrome, chondromalacia patellae, benign recurrent limb pains, and psychogenic rheumatism. Conditions that require further evaluation and ongoing therapy include Lyme disease, rheumatic fever, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, neoplastic disease, various orthopedic conditions, infection, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, and the rarer connective tissue diseases. If diagnosed early and treated appropriately, most joint problems of childhood have a very good prognosis.