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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
16160931 Chemokines in infection and inflammatory disease--the Royal Society of Medicine. 1999 Mar This well-organized meeting covered many clinical and academic areas related to chemokines and their receptors. Speakers from both sides of the Atlantic attended, including distinguished scientists and clinicians from both academic and pharmaceutical institutions. Although the meeting did not reveal sensational research data, it provided a forum in which attendees could express their views, using their research results as confirmation. Currently, the pathogenic and therapeutic roles of chemokines, and in particular their receptors, are clearer, although they are still not fully understood in HIV/AIDS and inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. Progress will only be made with further research in order to reveal the importance and therapeutic value of these molecules. In this sense, the meeting provided good food for thought, with suggestions of possible targets and the discussion of various applications of research findings.
11552610 [News in the treatment of rheumatic diseases]. 2000 Rheumatic diseases are frustrating issue for the rheumatologists because ethiologic remedy is still missing and much more, they are great socio-economic burden for patients and society. In the last 10 years there was bustling endeavour in creating new products with exact known action. This article deal the new options to treat rheumatoid arthritis with leflunomide, infliximab, etanercept and anakinra and osteoarthritis with hyaluronan, diacerhein, glucosamino sulphate, chondroitin sulphate and avocado/soya unsaponifiables. In particular patients all mentioned products have their place in the treatment plan but critical risk-benefit assessment is needed.
10868013 [Corticoids in therapy of rheumatic diseases yesterday--today--tomorrow]. 2000 Apr The discovery of the suprarenal glands and their function is discussed. The complicated history of cortisone from the synthesis until its use as an antirheumatic is told. Pharmacotherapy with this physiologic hormone also caused serious side effects. Changing the molecular structure did not essentially solve this problem. Only after finding novel ways of application could these risks be reduced. The indications for therapy were further effectively reduced after understanding the mechanisms of action. Modern standards for corticoid therapy of rheumatoid arthritis are discussed. The important problem of corticoid osteoporosis and the myth of cortisone ulcers are also explained. The problems of coping with patient fears to cortisone are considered. Concurring drugs of cortisone and their special benefits are compared.
10765492 Nosology and causal necessity; the relation between defining a disease and discovering its 1999 Dec The problem of disease definition is related to the problem of proving that a certain agent is the necessary cause of a certain disease. Natural kind terms like 'rheumatoid arthritis' and 'AIDS' refer to essences which are discoverable rather than predeterminate. No statement about such diseases is a priori necessarily true. Because theories on necessary causes involve natural kind semantics, Koch's postulates cannot be used to falsify or verify such theories. Instead of proving that agent A is the necessary cause of disease D, we include A in a theoretical definition of D, take this to represent the real meaning of 'D', and discard the pretheoretical definition. This is illustrated by Koch's own attempt to prove he had discovered the necessary cause of tuberculosis. Methodological arguments about disease causation require a clear view of our use of diagnostic terms. Medical lexicographers should do more to provide such a view.
10622202 Force analysis of the belly gutter and Capener splints. 1999 Oct In the management of hand injuries resulting from trauma or diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, hand therapists often design static and dynamic splints to rest and protect joints, provide stability, and enhance joint motion. However, the literature provides little help in analyzing the forces of a splint acting on a digit. This paper studies the forces generated by two different finger splints acting on the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) of the finger. The principles of force analysis are based on the Fess and Philips model of mechanics. Factors that affect the resultant forces generated by each splint design are identified, and the properties of each splint are discussed. Although the force generated by the two types of splints may vary only slightly, special features of each splint should be seriously taken into consideration in clinical application.
10461429 A case of Sweet's syndrome in patient with dermatomyositis. 1999 Jul Sweet's syndrome (SS) has been reported as an association with malignant neoplasms and autoimmune diseases, e.g., Behçet's disease, Sjogren's syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis. But dermatomyositis (DM), one of the rare autoimmune diseases, was not reported as an associated disease of SS. We describe an interesting case of SS associated with DM. Diagnosis was made by skin biopsy, and subsequent clinical resolution occurred after institution of prednisolone.
9842213 [Probiotics in childhood]. 1998 May The Probiotics (Lactic acid bacteria) represent a nutritional live microbial supplement that positively affects host by enhancing the microbial balance. A survey is made of the most relevant studies concerning the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of infantile acute diarrhoea (by rotavirus or other agents), pseudomembranous colitis, hospital-acquired and antibiotic-associated diarrhoeas. Although the probiotics mechanism of action is not yet completely understood, it has been hypothesized that they exert an inhibitory effect on the intestinal inflammation by immune response modulation. Due to this property, the use of probiotics has therefore been suggested in other severe diseases such as chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, food allergy, atopic dermatitis and as immunoadjuvant for oral vaccines.
9737186 [The role of prolactin in immunological processes]. 1998 Recently many investigations have been carried out which indicate possible link between the neuroendocrine and immunologic systems. The obtained information points out that some hormones not mentioned before can modify the immunological answer. More recently, the anterior pituitary hormone, prolactin, has been shown to have immune-stimulating properties through prolactin receptors, which are found an different cells. Among others prolactin receptors are present on B and T lymphocytes, monocytes and thomocyte epithelial cells. Immunological effects of this hormone were observed in vitro in investigations on animal experimental model and in humans. There are some therapeutic implications concerning patients with rheumatoid arthritis and with systemic lupus erythematosus and diagnostic implications, that determination of prolactin concentration in serum may appear to be useful marker of rejection in human heart transplantation. Although neuroendocrine regulations of immunological balance are complicated but by the regulation of prolactin secretion we can suspect the possibility of the control of autoimmunological diseases activity.
9581266 Bilateral spontaneous rupture of flexor digitorum profundus tendons. 1998 Spontaneous tendon rupture is an unusual condition usually associated with underlying disease processes such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic renal failure or bony abnormalities of the hand. We report a case of spontaneous, non-concurrent bilateral rupture of flexor profundus tendons in an otherwise healthy individual. Treatment was successful and consisted of a two-stage reconstruction of the ruptured tendon.
9495083 [Simultaneous bilateral rupture of the quadriceps tendon]. 1998 Feb 23 Bilateral rupture of the quadriceps tendon is a rare injury. It usually occurs in obese older patients. Other predisposing factors are long-term chronic renal failure, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, hyperparathyroidism and abuse of anabolic steroids. The most common cause of bilateral rupture is a sudden violent contraction of the quadriceps muscles with the knees semiflexed and the feet fixed. Examination reveals bilateral joint effusion, palpable or visible suprapatellar gaps, and an inability to extend both knees and lift the straight legs. Often the diagnosis is missed, and diagnostic confusion with other causes of inability to use the legs happens. We report one case of simultaneous bilateral rupture where treatment was delayed for several weeks because of diagnostic confusion.
9364829 Silicone breast implants and connective tissue disease: an overview. 1997 Nov Silicone breast implants have been implicated in the possible pathogenesis of various connective tissue diseases. These findings have had a major impact not only on the medical and legal communities, but also on the community at large. In this communication, we review the history of the breast implant controversy, and examine the medical evidence regarding the possible link of silicone gel implants with connective tissue disorders such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Finally, we give a broad overview of the topic and offer some general suggestions regarding the care of patients who have silicone breast implants.
9375374 Fibronectin. 1997 Jul Fibronectin is a glycoprotein consisting of repeating units of amino acids, which form domains that enable the molecule to interact with a variety of cells through both integrin and non-integrin receptors. It is encoded by a single gene, but alternative splicing of pre-mRNA allows formation of multiple isoforms that have critical roles in cell adhesion, migration and proliferation. The essential nature of fibronectin in development has clearly been demonstrated in a "knock-out" mouse model in which early lethality occurs. Fibronectin influences diverse processes including inflammation, wound repair, malignant metastasis, microorganism attachment and thrombosis. Researchers are currently developing tools, including synthetic peptides based on specific fibronectin regions. These molecules have been shown to alter processes such as lymphocyte binding in synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis, coronary arteriopathy in animal models of cardiac transplantation, and platelet aggregation in patients, and are thus providing important new therapeutic possibilities.
9208890 The association of malignancy with rheumatic and connective tissue diseases. 1997 Jun This article reviews the associations of cancer with rheumatic diseases. Recent epidemiologic data linking the autoimmune connective tissue diseases with malignancy will be emphasized. Reports linking the occurrence of malignancy with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, scleroderma, and vasculitis are described. The effect of immunomodulating drugs in the development of malignancy is discussed. Mechanisms potentially responsible for malignant transformation in the lymphoproliferation of Sjogren's syndrome are described. The relationship of gout to cancer as well as direct effects of cancer on the musculoskeletal system is also reviewed.
9200946 [Monoclonal antibodies for treating autoimmune diseases]. 1997 Jun Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to selected cell surface antigens, cytokines and their receptors, and adhesion molecules have been shown to inhibit autoimmune responses in preclinial animal models. Therapeutic trials using the chimeric or humanized mAbs have already been undergoing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Effects of anti-CD4 mAb are controversial, but anti-TNF-alpha mAb reveals encouraging results. Although it is too early to determine the efficacy, mAbs are new hopeful therapeutic strategies for autoimmune diseases.
9187212 Hemoptysis as the presenting symptom in bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. 1997 Jun Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is an uncommon but increasingly recognized pulmonary entity that usually presents with symptoms of dyspnea, cough, and fever. The medical literature describes rare cases of hemoptysis in BOOP, with very small quantities of blood expectorated. We describe two cases of BOOP, one idiopathic and one in association with rheumatoid arthritis, in which large-quantity hemoptysis was the primary presenting symptom.
18472827 Decreased levels of serum platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase in patients with rheu 1997 PAF is a potent inflammatory compound known to stimulate the release of various cytokines involved in rheumatic diseases. Elevated blood PAF levels are reported in these patients. We report that serum PAF acetylhydrolase activity (AHA) levels are decreased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis as compared to healthy controls. Serum and synovial fluid AHA levels were correlated in these patients. The present study suggests the potential role of AHA in controling systemic and/or local PAF levels in patients with rheumatic diseases.
28246975 Arthrodesis of the talocalcaneal joint in adults. Indications, procedure, outcome. 1999 Sep Affections of the rearfoot-complex may occur because of various etiologies and show differing pathogenetic patterns. Besides posttraumatic changes, the rheumatoid arthritis, primary disorders and neurologic complications are registered. Biomechanically the hindfoot-complex is characterised by the joint play of ligamentous, bony and tendineal structures. Referring to diagnostics the clinical and radiologic examination are predominant. In the literature there is no uniform opinion concerning the therapeutic algorythm. The arthrodesis as a surgical procedure is commonly used, nevertheless important differences may be stated with regard to the choice of the osteosynthesis or the number of the joints to be fused. We present biomechanical models, diagnostic examinations and operative procedures in this context. Our own results of patients who underwent sugical interventions involving joints of the lower rearfoot using the Kitaoka hindfoot-score are demonstrated.
11712697 New concepts in systemic autoimmunity testing. 2001 Diagnosis of systemic autoimmune diseases is highly complex, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to make assumptions about the functional roles and diagnostic significance of autoantibodies. The latter is mainly due to the fact that results from different assay systems are not interchangeable. A laboratory "gold standard" which helps the clinician to differentiate irrelevant autoimmune phenomena from significant autoimmune diseases at an early stage, is clearly missed. To meet this challenge, a rheuma entrance screening (RES) assay toolbox is proposed based on fully-automated enzyme immunoassay (EIA) technology on one system for the clinical and routine laboratory. The RES concept is intended to cover the most important syndromes of systemic rheumatic diseases, i.e. collagenosis, early rheumatoid arthritis, early osteoarthritis, anti-phospholipid syndrome and inflammation. The serological part of diagnosis of these diseases comprises testing for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF), low levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease-specific anti-phospholipid antibodies, e.g. anti-beta-2 glycoprotein I (anti-beta2 GPI). To eliminate the known problems of varying assay systems in this field, a novel, objective, rapid and reproducible approach to screen for such analytes in patient serum or plasma more efficiently is the application of EIAs on the fully-automated immunoassay analyser COBAS CORE (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany). The combined use of the RES (COBAS CORE HEp2 ANA EIA, COBAS CORE RF EIA Quant, COBAS CORE CRP EIA Quant and COBAS CORE Anti-beta2 GPI EIA) is intended for patients sent to the laboratory with the primary suspicion of harbouring a systemic rheumatic disease.
9817991 T-cell signal transduction and the role of protein kinase C. 1998 Oct The T lymphocyte has a vital part to play in maintaining the host response to bacterial and viral infection and also appears to play a key pathological role in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In this review, we summarize the signalling pathways which trigger antigen-driven T-cell proliferation and examine the evidence which suggests that protein kinase C (PKC) is fundamental to this process. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential that PKC inhibitors may have in the treatment of autoimmune disease.
9725764 Clinical implications of mast cell-bacteria interaction. 1998 Aug Mast cells are traditionally known for mediating allergic reactions. In addition, these cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of clinical conditions such as atopic and contact dermatitis, bullous pemphigoid, fibrotic lung disease, neurofibromatosis, psoriasis, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial cystitis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease, but their role in host defense was an enigma until recently. Owing to the strategic location of mast cells at the host environment interface, their role in bacterial infections has been studied by a number of investigators. Latest reports show that mast cells have an ability to modulate the host's innate immune response to infectious agents. This review discusses the clinical implications of mast cell-bacteria interactions.