Development of a subcutaneous endometriosis rat model

PURPOSE: To present a rat model of subcutaneous endometriosis for the study of pathophysiology and the effects of drugs. METHODS: Fifty three-month-old female Wistar rats (Rattus norvergicus) were distributed into one control group and four treatment groups: estradiol (2.5; 5; 10mg/kg sc), medroxyprogesterone acetate (0.5; 2; 5mg/kg sc), triptorelin pamoate (0.18; 0.56mg/kg sc) and acetylsalicylic acid (3mg/kg per os). The animals were autoimplanted subcutaneously with 4x4-mm uterine fragments to induce endometriosis. The endometriomas were measured on days 1, 7, 14 and 21. The relative dry and wet weights of the endometrioma were used to evaluate response to the drug. Endometrial -like tissue was confirmed by histology. The greatest weight gain was observed on day 14 (relative wet weight: 29.1 ± 6.7mg%, relative dry weight: 5.3 ± 0.9mg %). Treatments were administered between day 5 and day 14. RESULTS: The relative wet weight of the hemiuterus in the 10mg/kg estradiol group differed significantly from control and the other two estradiol groups (p=0.0001). In the medroxyprogesterone acetate group the weight decreased significantly but this decrease was not dose-dependent. Weight reduction was also significant in the triptorelin pamoate and the acetylsalicylic acid groups. CONCLUSION: The model of subcutaneous endometriosis is reproducible, low-cost and easy to perform, and suitable for the study of pathophysiology and the effects of drugs. .

Comparative study of ophthalmological and serological manifestations and the therapeutic response of patients with isolated scleritis and scleritis associated with systemic diseases / Estudo comparativo entre as manifestações oftalmológicas, sorológicas e resposta terapêutica de pacientes com esclerite isolada e esclerite associada a doenças sistêmicas

INTRODUCTION: Scleritis is a rare, progressive and serious disease, the signs of which are inflammation and edema of episcleral and scleral tissues and is greatly associated with systemic rheumatoid diseases. PURPOSE: To perform a prospective and comparative study between ophthalmologic manifestations, serologic findings and therapeutic response of patients with isolated scleritis and scleritis associated with systemic rheumatoid disease. METHODS: Thirty-two outpatients with non-infectious scleritis were studied, from March 2006 to March 2008. The treatment was corticoid eye drops associated with anti-inflammatory agents, followed by systemic corticoids and immunosuppressive drugs if necessary, was considered successful after six months without scleritis recurrence. RESULTS: Fourteen of 32 patients had scleritis associated with systemic rheumatoid disease, of which nine had rheumatoid arthritis, two systemic lupus erythematosus, one Crohn's disease, one Behçet's disease and one gout. There were no difference in relation to involvement and ocular complications, there was predominance of nodular anterior scleritis and scleral thinning was the most frequent complication. The scleritis associated with systemic rheumatoid disease group had 64.3 percent of autoantibodies, versus 27.8 percent among those with isolated scleritis and this difference was statistically significant. In the isolated scleritis group 16.7 percent used anti-inflammatory, 33.3 percent corticosteroids, 27.8 percent corticosteroids with one immunosuppressive drug, 5.5 percent two immunosuppressive drugs, 16.7 percent corticosteroids with two immunosuppressive drugs and 33.3 percent pulse of immunosuppressive drugs, there was remission in 88.9 percent. In the scleritis associated with systemic rheumatoid disease group 7.1 percent used anti-inflammatory, 7.1 percent corticosteroids, 50 percent corticosteroids with one immunosuppressive drug, 7.1 percent two immunosuppressive drugs and 22.2 percent pulse of immunosuppressive drugs, 100 percent had treatment success. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of unilateral nodular scleritis was noted in both groups and higher rates of all the parameters tested were noted in the scleritis associated with systemic rheumatoid disease group. There were no differences between the groups with respect to the use of immunosuppressive drugs and therapeutic response, which was fully satisfactory in the scleritis associated with systemic rheumatoid disease group and satisfactory in the isolated scleritis group.

INTRODUÇÃO: Esclerite é uma doença grave, rara e progressiva, que envolve inflamação e edema dos tecidos episcleral superficial, profundo e escleral e está associada com doenças sistêmicas reumatológicas em muitos casos. OBJETIVOS: Realizar um estudo prospectivo comparativo entre as manifestações oftalmológicas, achados sorológicos e resposta terapêutica de pacientes com esclerite isolada e com esclerite associada a doenças sistêmicas reumatológicas. MÉTODOS: Trinta e dois pacientes com esclerite não infecciosa participaram do estudo, de março de 2006 a março de 2008. O tratamento realizado baseou-se no uso de colírios de corticoides associados aos anti-inflamatórios não-hormonais, seguidos de corticoides sistêmicos e imunossupressores, se necessário. O sucesso do tratamento foi considerado como seis meses sem crises de esclerite. RESULTADOS: Quatorze dos 32 pacientes apresentaram esclerite associada à doença sistêmica, dos quais nove com artrite reumatóide, dois com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, um com doença de Crohn, um com doença de Behçet e um com gota. Não houve diferenças em relação ao envolvimento ocular e suas complicações, predominando a esclerite anterior nodular e o afinamento escleral, respectivamente. O grupo com esclerite associada a doenças sistêmicas apresentou 64,3 por cento de positividade de autoanticorpos contra 27,8 por cento no grupo com esclerite isolada, sendo tal diferença estatisticamente significante. No grupo com esclerite isolada, 16,7 por cento fez uso de apenas anti-inflamatórios, 33,3 por cento de corticoide sistêmico, 27,8 por cento de corticoide com um imunossupressor, 5,5 por cento dois imunossupressores, 16,7 por cento corticoide com dois imunossupressores e 33,3 por cento pulsoterapia com imunossupressor; sendo que houve sucesso do tratamento em 88,9 por cento. No grupo com esclerite associada à doença sistêmica, 7,1 por cento fez uso de anti-inflamatórios, 7,1 por cento corticoide sistêmico, 50 por cento corticoide com um imunossupressor, 7,1 por cento dois imunossupressores e 22,2 por cento pulsoterapia com imunossupressor; com 100 por cento de sucesso no tratamento nesse grupo. CONCLUSÃO: Em ambos os grupos houve predomínio da esclerite nodular unilateral e o grupo com esclerite associada a doença sistêmica apresentou taxas maiores de todos os autoanticorpos testados. Não houve diferença entre os grupos em relação ao uso de imunossupressores e à resposta terapêutica, a qual foi totalmente satisfatória no grupo com esclerite associada à doença sistêmica e satisfatória no grupo com esclerite isolada.

Magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of patients with aseptic meningoencephalitis and connective tissue disorders

OBJECTIVE: To describe the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of patients with chronic and recurrent aseptic meningitis.METHOD: A retrospective study of five patients with aseptic meningoencefalitis diagnosed by clinical and CSF findings. CT scans showed without no relevant findings. RESULTS: MRI showed small multifocal lesions hyperintense on T2 weighted images and FLAIR, with mild or no gadolinium enhancement, mainly in periventricular and subcortical regions. Meningoencephalitis preceded the diagnosis of the underlying disease in four patients (Behçet's disease or systemic lupus erythematosus). After the introduction of adequate treatment for the rheumatic disease, they did not present further symptoms of aseptic meningoencephalitis. CONCLUSION: Aseptic meningoencephalitis can be an early presentation of an autoimmune disease. It is important to emphasize the role of MRI in the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients.

Prednisolone purpura.

Corticosteroids, though known to act effectively against allergy and hypersensitivity, may themselves produce such reactions, ranging from urticaria to anaphylaxis. A middle-aged man with collagen vascular disease developed purpuric rash on repeated administration of steroids. This acute purpuric reaction with sequential colour changes is different than the more common senile purpura-like lesions induced by intake of steroids. It is also different than the purpuric lesions associated with collagen vascular disease per se. The present case favours an allergic aetiology.