Psoriatic arthritis treated with oral zinc sulphate.

Twenty-four patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis participated in a double blind cross-over trial of peroral zinc sulphate versus placebo (Trial I). Eleven patients continued an open trial of peroral zinc sulphate for an additional 24 weeks (Trial II). Remission was assessed by the disappearance of symptoms (overall condition, morning stiffness, functional capacity of the joints and joint pains), and signs (mobility and swelling of the joints). Reduction of joint pains as well as increase of mobility and decrease of swelling of several joints were observed. the clinical signs of reduced inflammation were accompanied biochemically by reduction of serum immunoglobulins and an increase of serum albumin. The need for analgesics was diminished. Severe side-effects and changes in the psoriatic skin involvement were not seen. Oral zinc sulphate seems to be valuable in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

Maximal oxygen consumption rate in patients with bronchial asthma-the effect of beta 2-adrenoreceptor stimulation.

Five young male patients with exercise-induced asthma (EIA) were subjected to graded bicycle exercise with work loads corresponding to 50%, 75% and 120% of the load necessary to elicit maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2 max). The exercise tests were performed after inhalation of salbutamol (Ventoline) as well as after inhalation of saline as control. Additionally two maximal work tests (bicycling and treadmill) were performed without inhalation on a work load corresponding to 100% Vo2 max. Oxygen uptake (Vo2) heart rate (HR), mean blood pressure (MBP), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) as well as arterial concentration of glucose and acid-base variables were measured. Vo2 max during bicycle exercise averaged 3.16 l/min and no significant difference was disclosed between the beta 2-stimulation and the control situations. The coefficient of variation of a single Vo2 max measurement was 4.7%. The maximal treadmill running revealed a significantly higher Vo2 max (3.42 l/min, P less than 0.05) than during bicycling; no EIA was provoked in any of the experiments. After beta 2-stimulation a higher HR and MBP in relation to Vo2 was observed than in the control experiment; however, the slope of HR/Vo2 and MBP/Vo2 relationships was not affected. Normal relationships were observed between Vo2 and work load, ventilation, RPE and acid-base data and these relations were unaffected of beta 2-stimulation. It is concluded, that Vo2 max seems to be within the normal range in asthmatics, provided they are free from attacks.

A control, double-blind comparison of mepivacaine injection versus saline injection for myofascial pain.

In a double-blind study 28 patients with acute, localised muscle pain received four local injections of mepivacaine 0.5%, and 25 patients with the same type of pain received local injections of an equivalent volume of physiological saline. The group receiving saline tended to have more relief of pain, especially after the first injection. The results thus show that pain relief is not due merely to the local anaesthetic. The study therefore raises questions about the mechanism by which local injections into muscle relieves pain, since there is the possibility that a similar effect might also be achieved by merely inserting a needle into the trigger point. Physiological saline is considered to be a more appropriate fluid for injection therapy than local anaesthetics since it is less likely to produce side-effects.

A comparison of the strain-gauge and the Dohn air-filled plethysmographs for blood flow measurements in the human calf.

Blood flow measurements using either a strain gauge plethysmograph or the Dohn air-filled plethysmograph were compared by means of successive measurements in the calf in six normal subjects (12 extremities) and in five patients with arterial insufficiency (nine extremities). Flows were recorded during rest as well as after 5 minutes of ischemia. The strain-gauge plethysmograph tended to give lower values than the Dohn plethysmograph, although at higher flow rates the results were identical. It is concluded that, for most purposes, the Dohn plethysmograph can be replaced by the strain gauge plethysmograph, which is considerably simpler to use.

Reflex dystrophy. Resting blood flow and muscle temperatures as diagnostic criteria.

Fifty-one patients were examined following an injury of the upper extremity. Clinically, 25 patients were estimated as having reflex dystrophy, while the rest was categorized as either having a possible reflex dystrophy or acted as controls. Temperature and blood flow measurements were carried out on both extremities of the patients. The temperature of the brachioradial muscle and resting blood flow of the same segment of the forearm gave highly significant elevated values on the reflex dystrophic arms as compared with the healthy side, while the control patients revealed no such differences. Combination of these two parameters proved to give a specificity and sensitivity that high that they can be recommended as a diagnostic tool. A quantitative measurement and exact diagnosis make controlled trials on this group of patients easier in the future.

Epidemiology of herpesvirus and respiratory virus infections. Part 1. Serologic findings.

The majority of the population group studied had complement-fixation antibodies toward the following viruses: influenza type A, respiratory syncytial, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr. The herpesvirus infections (cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus) seemed to be prevalent. Only low incidences of antibodies were found toward adenovirus, influenza type B, influenza type C, and parainfluenza type II. A total of 70 aucte virus infections (increases of antibody titer) were diagnosed in 49 patients. Besides cytomegalovirus, no particular virus infection occurred in a large number. Only 11 of the 70 acute virus infections diagnosed serologically were accompanied by clinical signs of disease