0 mg CoCr, 10.0 mg CoCr, a positive control (20.0 mg of nickel) and a negative control (ISOVUE-M-300). The CoCr-alloy and Ni particles had a mean diameter of 0.2 and 0.6 mu m, respectively. Five rabbits per dose group were studied at 12 Epigenetics inhibitor and 24 weeks. Local and

distant tissues were analyzed histologically and quantitatively analyzed immunohistochemically (TNF-alpha and IL-6).

Results Histologically, wear particles were observed in all animals. There was no evidence of toxicity or local irritation noted during macroscopic observations in any CoCr-dosed animals. However, Ni-treated control animals experienced bilateral hind leg paralysis and were euthanized at Day 2. Histopathology of the Ni particle-treated group revealed severe neuropathy. Quantitative immunohistochemistry demonstrated a CoCr-alloy dose-dependent

increase in cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha, p < 0.05) at 12 and 24 weeks.

Conclusions Subtle peri-spine inflammation associated with CoCr-alloy implant particles was dose dependent and persistent. Neuropathy can be induced by highly reactive Ni particles. This suggests peri-spine challenge with CoCr-alloy implant debris (e.g., TDA) is consistent with past reports using titanium alloy particles, i.e., mild persistent inflammation.”
“Tuberculosis (TB) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing treatment with anti-TNF agents is commonly the result of reactivation of latent TB infection (LTBI); Pitavastatin supplier detection and treatment of LTBI is essential before treatment with anti-TNF agents. More than 80% of TB cases associated with biologic therapy are reported in patients aged >60 years. We compared the prevalence of LTBI in RA patients and matched controls according to positive TST and QFT-GIT results and determine their agreement. We also determined the performance of TST and QFT for detection of LTBI in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and matched controls in a TB-endemic population. There were no significant differences

between RA patients and controls see more for age, sex, BCG vaccination, or history of or contact with TB. 88% of the patients had active RA disease and 2 (1.9%) had indeterminate QFT results. The number of subjects testing positive with QFT was comparable between patients and controls (44.6% vs. 59.1%, respectively), whereas the TST detected significantly less LTBI among RA patients (26.7%) than controls (65.6%). Poor agreement between TST and QFT was seen in RA patients, but in controls good agreement was observed between these tests. These findings suggest there is greater sensitivity of the QFT-GIT to detect LTBI in RA patients. We found a much lower TST positivity in RA patients aged >60 years (8/45; 17%) compared to controls from the same age group (29141; 71%; P < 0.001); this difference persisted for patients aged 40 to 60 (P < 0.001) but not in younger patients (aged 20-40) (45% vs. 36%; P = 0.62).