Search for: rheumatoid arthritis methotrexate autoimmune disease biomarker gene expression GWAS HLA genes non-HLA genes
| ID | PMID | Title | PublicationDate | abstract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16201170 | [Posterior stabilized knee arthroplasty: 5-year follow up]. | 2001 Dec | OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the middle-term results of posterior stabilized knee arthroplasty (PSKA). METHODS: From July 1995 to July 2000, 19 knees of 18 patients were replaced with posterior stabilized prosthesis (Insall-Burstein II). Among the patients, 2 were male, and 16 female. Their average age was 62.5 years (44-78 years). One patient was operated on bilaterally. Preoperative diagnosis revealed osteoarthritis in 16 knees, and rheumatoid arthritis in 3 knees. Four knees demonstrated severe bone deficiency during surgery. Before operation, 15 of the rest knees were varusly deformed, 4 were valgusly deformed, and 8 had flexion contracture. Two patients underwent surgery previously. 17 patients (18 knees) were followed-up for 41-60 months, each of them was evaluated with the Special Surgery Knee Scoring System. RESULTS: Average preoperative scores increased from 62 preoperatively to 89 postoperatively. The range of motion was significantly improved from 91 degrees preoperatively to 115 degrees postoperatively. Eleven knees were rated as excellent, 5 good, 1 fair, and 1 poor. The excellent and good rate was 88.9%. CONCLUSIONS: With its design features, PSKA can effectively improve the range of motion and maximum flexion angle without compromising posterior stability. PSKA is suitable for both primary and revision total knee arthroplasty but caution should be taken for patellar complications. | |
| 11727171 | Noncontraceptive benefits and therapeutic uses of the oral contraceptive pill. | 2001 Dec | The oral contraceptive pill is one of the most extensively studied medications ever prescribed. The health benefits are numerous and outweigh the risks of their use. Definitive evidence exists for protection against ovarian and endometrial cancers, benign breast disease, pelvic inflammatory disease requiring hospitalization, ectopic pregnancy, and iron-deficiency anemia. It has also been suggested that oral contraceptives may provide a benefit on bone mineral density, uterine fibroids, toxic shock syndrome, and colorectal cancer. Minimal supportive evidence exists for oral contraceptives protecting against the development of functional ovarian cysts and rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment of medical disorders with oral contraceptives is an "off-label" practice. Dysmenorrhea, irregular or excessive bleeding, acne, hirsutism, and endometriosis-associated pain are common targets for oral contraceptive therapy. Most patients are unaware of these health benefits and therapeutic uses of oral contraceptives, and they tend to overestimate their risk. Counseling and education are necessary to help women make well-informed health-care decisions and improve compliance. | |
| 11428074 | [Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. A underestimated sequela of long-term treatment of a | 2001 Jun | The treatment of autoimmune diseases with systemic glucocorticosteroids remains a therapeutic challenge and requires close collaboration with internists, radiologists and in some cases orthopedic surgeons. Generally, patients initially receive high-dose glucocorticosteroid therapy and are then treated for a longer period of time with moderate to low doses above the level causing symptoms of Cushing's disease. A major cause of complications is glucocorticosteroid-induced osteoporosis with hip fractures, crush fractures of the spine and other low trauma fractures as well as deformities of the skeleton leading to neurological and other systemic problems. Loss of bone mass as a result of high dose or long term systemic glucocorticosteroid treatment is well studied and can be documented in a standardized and reproducible fashion using modern radiological techniques. In recent years several controlled studies of bone loss and therapy of osteoporosis have been published, mostly including patients with rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. This review discusses recent publications and provides a brief overview on therapeutic options. | |
| 11342366 | Hyperhomocysteinemia in myelodysplastic syndromes: specific association with autoimmunity | 2001 Mar | Hyperhomocysteinemia (HH) has been associated with cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases and oxidative cell damage. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are associated with autoimmunity (AI) and increased oxidative stress. We tested the association of HH and oxidative stress in 33 MDS patients, by measuring plasma homocysteine and malondialdehyde (MDA). HH was found in 42% of cases, (4/5) cases with associated cardiovascular events (CVE)(80%), and 9/15 cases with associated AI (60%). Thus in MDS, HH was significantly associated with AI/CVE (chi(2) : p=0.0011), and this association seems to be specific, as demonstrated by the comparison of MDS presenting AI/CVE with the ischemic cardiopathy/rheumatoid arthritis control group (13/20, 65% vs 19/69, 27%; chi(2) : p=0.0021). The levels of MDA indicated increased oxidative stress. Our data may suggest that in a subset of MDS, HH may simultaneously contribute to bone marrow myelodysplasia, CVE and AI pathogenesis, possibly through oxidative cell damage. | |
| 11336564 | Drugs, inflammation and cell adhesion receptors. | 2001 Jan | The cell adhesion receptors that participate in the extravasation and migration of leucocytes towards inflammatory foci mainly include the selectins and different members of the integrin and immunoglobulin superfamilies. These adhesion receptors mediate the sequential steps of leucocyte-endothelial cell interaction and, together with chemoattractant molecules (e.g., chemokines), direct the influx of inflammatory cells and define the characteristics of the cell infiltrate. Many different drugs, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoids, rheumatoid arthritis disease-modifying agents and phosphodiesterase inhibitors, interfere with the expression and/or function of cell adhesion receptors and this effect accounts for, at least in part, their anti-inflammatory activity. In recent years, novel approaches for the modulation of the cell membrane receptors involved in inflammation have been active areas in pharmaceutical research. Upgraded synthetic blocking compounds, chimeric monoclonal antibodies or improved antisense oligonucleotides represent important advances in this field. The proper development of these novel approaches, as well as other alternative strategies, will allow a better and more specific pharmacological modulation of the inflammatory phenomenon. | |
| 11071118 | Effect of auranofin, an antirheumatic drug, on neutrophil apoptosis. | 2000 Sep | OBJECTIVE: The effects of auranofin (AF) on apoptosis and on the biological functions of neutrophils were investigated. METHODS: Neutrophils were incubated with various concentrations of AF for different periods. Cell viability was determined by the MTS assay and apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometric analysis of propidium iodide (PI)- staining of the nuclei and annexin-V staining of phosphatidylserine in the cell membrane. The effect of AF on the expression of adhesion molecules (CD62L and CD11b/CD18) and on the generation of O2- by neutrophils was also determined. RESULTS: At a low concentration (1 microM), AF significantly prolonged neutrophil survival by delaying spontaneous apoptosis. Neutrophils incubated with AF for 12 and 24 hours maintained the capacity to express adhesion molecules and generate O2-. In contrast, a higher AF concentration (5 microM) shortened neutrophil survival by the induction of cell necrosis. CONCLUSION: Although the biological significance of inhibitory effect of AF on neutrophil apoptosis remains unclear, it seems to be unlikely that AF exerts the anti-inflammatory effect in vivo by directly suppressing neutrophil functions. Since AF has a wide range of effects on leukocytes, its therapeutic benefit in rheumatoid arthritis may be mediated in a complex manner. | |
| 10770031 | Childhood mixed connective tissue disease. | 2000 Feb | Two girls with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) were treated in our hospital in the past 5 years. Patient 1, a 10-year-old girl presenting with migratory arthralgia, had an initial diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Muscle weakness with elevated levels of creatine kinase and liver enzymes, sclerodactyly, Raynaud's phenomenon and heliotrope sign developed subsequently in the following 3 years. Patient 2, a 13-year-old girl, had been treated for suspected systemic lupus erythematosus since 9 years of age. She presented with lymphadenopathy, arthralgia, pericardial effusion, and paralytic ileus. The symptoms waxed and waned. Sclerodactyly, Raynaud's phenomenon, proteinuria, and hypertension were also noted. Both patients had high serum titers of antinuclear antibody (speckled pattern, 1:5120) and were seropositive for antiribonuclear protein antibody. Intravenous immunoglobulin, prednisolone, cyclosporine A, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were given to patient 1. Patient 2 received cyclosporine A, prednisolone, and methylprednisolone pulse therapy. The disease has been well controlled for 2 years by low-dose immunosuppressants and NSAIDs. MCTD is a rare juvenile rheumatic disease: early identification and appropriate treatment can improve the disease outcome. | |
| 10761014 | Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia. | 1998 Jan | BACKGROUND: Clonal diseases of large granular lymphocyte (LGL) disorders can arise from a CD3+ T-cell lineage or from a CD3- NK-cell lineage. CD3+ LGL leukemia is the most frequent form of LGL leukemia and is a distinct entity by FAB and REAL classifications. METHODS: The clinical course, biological features, and recent data on pathogenesis of CD3+ LGL leukemia are reviewed. The spectrum of differential diagnosis is described. RESULTS: T-LGL leukemia affects elderly people. Approximately 60% of patients are symptomatic; recurrent infections secondary to chronic neutropenia, anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis are the main clinical features. The most common phenotype is CD3+, CD8+, CD57+. Clonality is detected by clonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor gene. Clinical and molecular remission can be obtained with oral low-dose methotrexate. Serologic findings show frequent reactivity to the BA21 epitope of HTLV-I env p21e, suggesting that a cellular or retroviral protein with homology to BA21 may be important in pathogenesis. Clonal expansion may be facilitated by IL-12 and IL-15 lymphokines. Constitutive expression of Fas ligand by leukemic LGLs support the hypothesis that leukemic cells arise from antigen-activated cytotoxic T cells. Leukemic LGLs express a multidrug-resistance phenotype that could partly explain the chemoresistance observed in aggressive cases. CONCLUSIONS: CD3+ LGL leukemia is a distinct lymphoproliferative T-cell disorder with specific clinicobiological aspects. The clinical spectrum of LGL proliferations is wide and immunophenotypic, and genotypic studies are needed to establish the diagnosis. | |
| 10748962 | Traditional Indian systems of medicine. | 2000 Jan | INTRODUCTION: A number of traditional systems of medicine exist in India of which Ayurveda is the most popular. Despite being in use for more than 3000 years, few properly designed trials have scientifically examined the clinical potential of Ayurvedic and other medications. METHODS: We reviewed the MEDLINE database to identify clinical trials conducted using traditional Indian medicines. Single case reports were excluded. RESULTS: Ayurvedic preparations have been successfully used for the treatment of bronchial asthma, ischaemic heart disease and hyperlipidaemia. Formulations containing curcumin were reported to reduce inflammation and disability in double-blind clinical trials on patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A number of products are reported to be useful in patients with acute viral hepatitis. A multicentric study by the Indian Council of Medical Research showed that a preparation from Pterocarpus marsupium was effective in reducing levels of blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In another multicentric trial, patients with fistula-in-ano were randomised to surgery or application of medicated seton (Ksharsootra). Surgical treatment led to a faster cure but recurrence rates were lower with medicated seton. Administration of extract from Bacopa monnieri, to children with mental retardation, was reported to significantly improve short-term and long-term memory. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based studies on the efficacy and safety of traditional Indian medicines are limited. The essential ingredient in most formulations is not precisely defined. High quality studies are necessary to evaluate and compare the value of traditional Indian drugs to modern medicine. | |
| 10614067 | The reaction of hyaluronic acid and its monomers, glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine, | 1999 Oct 15 | Synovial fluid is a approximately 0.15% (w/v) aqueous solution of hyaluronic acid (HA), a polysaccharide consisting of alternating units of GlcA and GlcNAc. In synovial fluid of patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, HA is thought to be degraded either by radicals generated by Fenton chemistry (Fe2+/H2O2) or by NaOCl generated by myeloperoxidase. We investigated the course of model reactions of these two reactants in physiological buffer with HA, and with the corresponding monomers GlcA and GlcNAc. meso-Tartaric acid, arabinuronic acid, arabinaric acid and glucaric acid were identified by GC-MS as oxidation products of glucuronic acid. When GlcNAc was oxidised, erythronic acid, arabinonic acid, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-gluconic acid, glyceric acid, erythrose and arabinose were formed. NaOCl oxidation of HA yielded meso-tartaric acid; in addition, arabinaric acid and glucaric acid were obtained by oxidation with Fe2+/H2O2. These results indicate that oxidative degradation of HA proceeds primarily at glucuronic acid residues. meso-Tartaric acid may be a useful biomarker of hyaluronate oxidation since it is produced by both NaOCl and Fenton chemistry. | |
| 9920411 | Novel insights into structure and function of MRP8 (S100A8) and MRP14 (S100A9). | 1998 Dec 10 | The two migration inhibitory factor- (MIF)-related protein-8 (MRP8; S100A8) and MRP14 (S100A9) are two calcium-binding proteins of the S100 family. These proteins are expressed during myeloid differentiation, are abundant in granulocytes and monocytes, and form a heterodimeric complex in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Phagocytes expressing MRP8 and MRP14 belong to the early infiltrating cells and dominate acute inflammatory lesions. In addition, elevated serum levels of MRP8 and MRP14 have been found in patients suffering from a number of inflammatory disorders including cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic bronchitis, suggesting conceivable extracellular roles for these proteins. Although a number of possible functions for MRP8/14 have been proposed, the biological function still remains unclear. This review addresses recent developments regarding the MRP14-mediated promotion of leukocyte-endothelial cell-interactions and the characterization of MRP8/14 heterodimers as a fatty acid binding protein complex. In view of the current knowledge, the authors will hypothesize that MRP8 and MRP14 play an important role in leukocyte trafficking, but do not affect neutrophil effector functions. | |
| 9719492 | Interleukin-15 and its role in chronic inflammatory diseases. | 1998 Jul | This review focuses on the biological effects of the newly discovered cytokine, interleukin 15 (IL-15), in chronic inflammatory disorders. IL-15 shares biological activities with IL-2, and like IL-2 it is a member of the four-helix bundle cytokine family. IL-15 interacts with a heterotrimeric receptor that consists of the beta and gamma subunits of the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) as well as a specific, high-affinity IL-15-binding subunit, IL-1SRalpha. IL-15 is produced by macrophages and various other cells in response to environmental stimuli and infectious agents, and it is important for the growth and differentiation of T and B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, macrophages, and monocytes as well as it activates a number of important intracellular signaling molecules, including the Janus kinases and members of the transcription factor family of signal transducers and activators of transcription. These facts suggest that IL- 15 may play a pivotal role both in protective immune responses and in the pathogenesis of various chronic immuno-inflammatory disorders. The important new insight into the role of IL-15 in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, chronic hepatitis C, and ulcerative colitis are reviewed in this paper. | |
| 9719491 | Macrophage NRAMP1 and its role in resistance to microbial infections. | 1998 Jul | The identification and characterization of genetic factors influencing natural susceptibility to infectious diseases in humans and in model organisms, such as the laboratory mouse, can provide new insight into the basic mechanisms of host defense against infections. In the mouse, resistance or susceptibility to infection with intracellular pathogens such as Salmonella, Mycobacterium and Leishmnania is controlled by the Natural resistance associated macrophage protein (Nramp1) gene on chromosome 1, which influences the rate of intracellular replication of these parasites in macrophages. Nramp1 codes for an integral membrane protein, which is expressed exclusively in macrophage/monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The protein is localized to the endosomal/lysosomal compartment of the macrophage and is rapidly recruited to the membrane of the particle-containing phagosome upon phagocytosis. Nramp defines a novel family of functionally related membrane proteins including Nramp2, which was recently shown to be the major transferrin-independent uptake system of the intestine in mammals. This observation supports the hypothesis that the phagocyte-specific Nramp1 protein may regulate the intraphagosomal replication of antigenically unrelated bacteria by controlling divalent cation concentrations at that site. Recent genetic studies have found that allelic variants at the human NRAMP1 locus are associated with susceptibility to leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae) and tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and possibly with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis. | |
| 9672994 | Clinical diagnosis found in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon: a multicentre study. | 1998 | A multicentre observational study was conducted in order to detect the major clinical diagnosis found in 761 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) attending 50 Italian centres for rheumatology and internal medicine. Systemic sclerosis was the most frequent condition associated with secondary RP, occurring in 216 (28.4%) patients. The other most frequent clinical diagnoses included systemic lupus erythematosus (52 cases: 6.8%) and rheumatoid arthritis (38 cases: 5%). Other RP-related diseases (hypertension, Sjögren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, cryoglobulinemia, dermatopolymyositis, vasculitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus) occurred in less than 5% of cases. A total of 130 (48%) out of 268 patients with primary RP showed one or more clinical features indicating a fairly high risk of evolving into fully established systemic sclerosis. None of these patients fulfilled the ACR criteria for systemic sclerosis. This study shows that over 50% of patients with RP attending 50 Italian centres for rheumatology and internal medicine had a connective tissue disease. The large number of patients with primary RP and isolated clinical features of connective tissue disease indicates that more efforts should be focused on developing new criteria for the classification of RP. | |
| 9643318 | Mixed cryoglobulinaemia: a cross-road between autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders | 1998 | Mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) is a systemic vasculitis, secondary to the deposition in small and medium-sized blood vessels of circulating immune complexes, mainly the cryoglobulins, and complement. MC is characterised by a typical clinical triad (purpura, weakness, arthralgias) and by one or more organ involvement: chronic hepatitis, glomerulonephritis, peripheral neuropathy, skin ulcers and diffuse vasculitis. In a limited number of MC patients, a malignancy, that is B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or hepatocellular carcinoma, may also develop. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been found in the majority of patients with MC; the frequency of HCV markers (91%) was significantly higher than other rheumatic diseases (6.4%), namely systemic lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis, or healthy controls (1.2%). The HCV infection of lymphoid tissues may represent the remote event leading to B-lymphocyte proliferation responsible for autoantibodies and immune-complex production. In a similar way, HCV infection may also be involved in the pathogenesis of other autoimmune (glomerulonephritis, thyroiditis, lung fibrosis, autoimmune hepatitis, porphyria cutanea tarda) and lymphoproliferative disorders (monoclonal gammopathies, B-cell lymphomas). MC shares numerous clinico-serological and pathological features with the above disorders. HCV seems to be their common etiological agent; however, a variable combination of unknown co-factors (infectious, genetic, environmental) should be determinant for the appearance of different clinical patterns. | |
| 18465536 | NCX-4016 NicOx SA. | 1998 Jun | NCX-4016, a nitric oxide non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NO-NSAID) which can inhibit cyclooxygenase as well as release nitric oxide, is under development by NicOx as a potential treatment for thrombosis, inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis. It is an aspirin-nitrobutyl ester and is in phase I clinical trials as an oral antithrombotic agent in the UK [222690]. A placebo-controlled, double-blind study has been completed, which demonstrated good tolerability to NCX-4016. Studies to evaluate pharmacodynamic parameters and gastric tolerability are in progress [275922]. This compound has demonstrated a wider efficacy and tolerability than aspirin under several experimental conditions [210800]. In vitro studies have demonstrated the ability of NCX-4016 to interfere with platelet aggregation, adhesion and thromboxane B2 production. Studies in rats have also demonstrated the biological activity and gastrointestinal safety of NCX-4016 [275922]. NicOx applied for patent coverage in May 1994 and WO-09716405 specifically covers nitrated phenol esters of aspirin. NicOx specializes in the field of nitric oxide donors as therapeutic agents. The company's strategy is based on the development of new proprietary anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antithrombotic drugs with improved gastric and renal safety profiles. NicOx works with a network of outside collaborators from academia and the pharmaceutical industry, thereby enabling rapid development whilst maintaining only a small infrastructure. The company has raised $7 million, with new investors, including Paribas Principal Investments (France) and Health Corp AB (Sweden) [273176]. The funds will be used to expand its preclinical and clinical research. NicOx is collaborating with Bayer on the development of NCX-4016, and research with other "nitro-aspirins" [281704]. | |
| 15992050 | Olpadronate: a new amino-bisphosphonate for the treatment of medical osteopathies. | 1998 Sep | Olpadronate is a nitrogenated bisphosphonate. Although it shares the therapeutic and pharmacological properties of pamidronate and alendronate, it has a greater dosage amplitude, more predictable effects and a greater digestive tolerability than other bisphosphates. Therefore, it may be more appropriate in the treatment of medical osteopathies, by both oral and parenteral routes of administration. According to various experimental and human models, the pharmacological potency of olpadronate is 5- to 10-times higher than that of pamidronate and close to that of alendronate. The two methyl groups bound to the nitrogen atom give the compound a high water solubility, which is about 8-times higher than that of the two other bisphosphonates. The lack of a terminal amino group in the side-chain of the molecule and the absence of crystallised forms of the compound in the digestive tract (due to its high water solubility) may avoid the potential for inducing oesophageal and gastrointestinal side-effects. These features may explain the high tolerability reported after the administration of doses of olpadronate (by the oral route) up to 5- to 10-times higher than the maximum tolerated dose of alendronate in Paget's bone disease and bone metastases, thus widening the possibilities for its clinical usage. In addition, initial pharmacokinetic studies suggest that olpadronate's oral bioavailability would fit into a confidence range of 2-4%, which contrasts with the erratic absorption shown by other highly potent bisphosphonates. The clinical efficacy demonstrated in preliminary studies in Paget's bone disease (including ultra-short treatments), and also in single-dose iv. therapy of hypercalcaemia of malignancies, renders olpadronate among the most promising bisphosphonate compounds, with potential use in the treatment of a variety of bone-involving diseases, such as osteoporosis, malignancies and rheumatoid arthritis. | |
| 11708985 | Polymorphisms in inflammatory genes and the risk of Alzheimer disease. | 2001 Nov | The concept of inflammation as a major factor in Alzheimer disease (AD) has heretofore been based on postmortem findings of autodestructive changes associated with the lesions coupled with epidemiological evidence of a protective effect of anti-inflammatory agents. Now there is evidence that the risk of AD is substantially influenced by a total of 10 polymorphisms in the inflammatory agents interleukin 1alpha, interleukin 1beta, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, alpha(2)-macroglobulin, and alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin. The polymorphisms are all common ones in the general population, so there is a strong likelihood that any given individual will inherit 1 or more of the high-risk alleles. The overall chances of an individual developing AD might be profoundly affected by a "susceptibility profile" reflecting the combined influence of inheriting multiple high-risk alleles. Since some of the polymorphisms in question have already been linked to peripheral inflammatory disorders, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and periodontitis, associations between AD and several chronic degenerative diseases may eventually be demonstrated. Such information could lead to strategies for therapeutic intervention in the early stages of such disorders. | |
| 11589364 | Anti-inflammatory effects of methotrexate on reversed passive Arthus reactions in rats. | 2000 May | The anti-inflammatory effects of methotrexate (MTX), an anti-rheumatic drug for treating rheumatoid arthritis, on acute inflammation were studied by using Arthus reactions induced in the pleural cavity and dorsal skin of rats. The effects were compared with those of dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic analog of adrenocortical steroid, and of ketoprofen (KET), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. In reversed passive Arthus (RPA) reactions induced in the pleural cavity by an anti-bovine-albumin serum, DEX significantly suppressed both neutrophil accumulation and plasma exudation at the sites of injection of an antibody, whereas MTX and KET had no effect. In the RPA reaction induced in the dorsal skin by an anti-ovalbumin serum, all three drugs inhibited exudation to the same level. However, DEX and MTX suppressed neutrophil accumulation, whereas KET did not. We found that the oral administration of MTX for 3 days significantly inhibited both neutrophil accumulation and exudation in the RPA reaction in the dorsal skin, suggesting that MTX is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. However, the manifestation of these anti-inflammatory effects might be restricted by differences in the inflammation models in rats. | |
| 11521117 | Current perspectives on oral contraceptive use. | 2001 Aug | Oral contraceptives are one of the most highly effective forms of contraception and provide many short- and long-term noncontraceptive health benefits. They control menstrual cycle irregularities, such as breakthrough bleeding and amenorrhea, and are effective in treating dysfunctional uterine bleeding. In addition, for decades after oral contraceptive use is discontinued they are associated with substantial decreases in the risk of ovarian cancer (up to 80%) and of endometrial cancer (40%-50%), and nearly eliminate benign functional ovarian cysts. Long-term oral contraceptive use confers protection against benign breast disease and colorectal cancer, may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, decreases ectopic pregnancy and hospitalizations for pelvic inflammatory disease, and helps preserve bone mineral density to reduce risk of fractures. Large bodies of evidence from extensive research have clarified the perceived association of oral contraceptive use with cardiovascular disease and with breast cancer. Findings indicate that there is no increased risk of myocardial infarction or stroke associated with oral contraceptive use in healthy, nonsmoking, normotensive women. Although there is a 3- to 4-fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism with current oral contraceptive use, the absolute risk is very small and is half that associated with pregnancy. Women of all reproductive ages, including perimenopausal women, can realize many health benefits through oral contraceptive use, including improved health status later in life. |