A report of three cases of Yersinia reactive arthritis.

Three cases of reactive arthritis associated with Yersinia enterocolitica bowel infection are reported. In one case Y. enterocolitica was cultured from stools while all three exhibited a significant increase in serum antibody titres to Y. enterocolitica. These are believed to be the first reports of Yersinia reactive arthritis in Australia. Synovial membrane biopsy in one case revealed a mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate the appearance of which was quite dissimilar to that of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood, but not the synovial fluid from another patient had reduced functional activity compared to RA patients as determined by response to phytohemagglutinin stimulation and allogeneic responses. Large numbers of HLA-DR and acid phosphatase positive macrophages were also found in the synovial fluid of this patient. The reason for joint involvement in Y. enterocolitica reactive arthritis is unknown and further work is necessary.

Large scale spatial and temporal variation in recruitment to fish populations on coral reefs.

Visual census was used to sample young of the year of fish species recruited to each of two habitats on seven lagoonal platform reefs of the Capricorn-Bunker Group, Great Barrier Reef. The reefs sampled span an area 70 km in extent. In 1983, 62 species from 13 families were detected as recruits on reef slope sites. The total number of cruits, and the number of each of 6 of 16 species tested, differed significantly among reefs, despite the fact that differences among sites within reefs did not exist, and that sampled slopes were chosen to be hydrographically, and physiographically as similar as possible. Lagoonal patch reefs were sampled in two years. In 1982, 76 species of 11 families occurred as recruits. In 1983, 86 species of 12 families were recorded. All of 22 species common enough to test showed some significant variation in abundance among reefs, years, or both. For 9 species, significant year x reef interactions occurred, demonstrating that relative recruitment success among reefs varied between years. Reasons for the substantial levels of variability are discussed, and implications for the organisation of reef fish communities are considered.

Polymyalgia rheumatica: an arthroscopic study of the shoulder joint.

A careful selection of 19 patients fitting the classical description of polymyalgia rheumatica have been examined by arthroscopy and thoroughly screened and followed up to exclude rheumatoid arthritis and other disease processes. Synovitis of the shoulder joint has been observed through the arthroscope in 17 and synovitis of varying degrees noted histologically, 4 of whom were studied by immunofluorescence. Five patients had radioactive joint scans.

A double-blind, comparative study of diflunisal and naproxen in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

A randomized, double-blind trial was carried out in 47 hospital out-patients, with classical rheumatoid arthritis, to compare the efficacy and tolerance of diflunisal with that of naproxen. After an initial one week washout period the patients received diflunisal 1000 mg daily or naproxen 750 mg daily using a double placebo, crossover method. Each drug was administered for a three week period separated by a one week between treatment washout. With both drugs there was an improvement in objective and subjective assessments of response indicating that they each had an effective anti-inflammatory action. Diflunisal produced a significantly greater improvement in evening pain (p = 0.03), morning stiffness (p = 0.01) and the average total grip strength (p = 0.05). Nearly 60% of patients preferred diflunisal to naproxen but this was not of statistical significance. Frequency and severity of side-effects were similar. The similarity of diflunisal to aspirin in urate lowering is commented upon.