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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
6430378 Thyroxine-binding prealbumin--an index of disease activity or nutritional status in rheuma 1984 Aug Thyroxine-binding prealbumin (TBPA) concentrations were measured in 54 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 50 control subjects. TBPA levels were significantly depressed in the RA patients, of whom 15 had values below the laboratory reference range. Although significant negative correlations were seen between TBPA and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin measurements, TBPA levels showed little relationship to disease activity as assessed clinically. On the other hand, RA patients with reduced TBPA had an increased frequency of associated anthropometric and serum visceral protein abnormalities indicating nutritional impairment. TBPA is probably subjected to diverse stimuli in patients with RA and should not be considered to act as a 'pure' negative acute phase reactant.
71974 Flurbiprofen at night. 1977 Three double-blind crossover trials were used to study the effects of single doses of flurbiprofen at night on pain at night, duration of morning stiffness and sleep disturbance in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Flurbiprofen (150 mg) was shown to be superior to placebo and 150 mg was no more effective than 100 mg. Serum levels of the drug were significantly higher with 150 mg but did not correlate with clinical effects.
6103093 Angiogenic factor from synovial fluid resembling that from tumours. 1980 Mar 29 Synovial fluids from 2 of 2 patients with osteoarthritis, 2 of 8 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 2 of 2 with ankylosing spondylitis contained a low-molecular-weight angiogenesis factor apparently identical with that derived from tumours. The amount of factor present was highest in patients with osteoarthritis, 2 patients with psoriatic arthropathy gave negative results. It is suggested that angiogenesis factor is involved, directly or indirectly, in the production of synovial exudate.
6977838 HLA B27 in the population of northern Sweden. 1982 The frequency of HLA B27 in blood donors born in northern Sweden was found to be 16.6%. This was significantly higher than in southern Sweden or in caucasians generally, with the exception of Finland. A close genetic relationship has been found between the population of northern Sweden and the Finnish. The higher frequency of HLA B27 is particularly interesting in view of the finding of a higher incidence of rheumatic diseases in northern than in southern Sweden. We also found a surprisingly large number of patients with reactive arthritides and ankylosing spondylitis in the patient registers of the rheumatology department, which further indicated a genetic influence on rheumatic disorders in northern Sweden.
59601 Rheumatoid factor (antigammaglobulin) in women: effects of oral contraceptives use of its 1976 May A total of 14,856 women, including 921 pregnant subjects, were tested for rheumatoid factor; 4,562 were using oral contraceptives at the time of testing. The prevalence of rheumatoid factor increased directly with age. The age-adjusted prevalence of rheumatoid factor was lower in oral contraceptive users than in nonusers but this difference was not statistically significant. Rheumatoid factor remained positive in 39% of subjects undergoing retesting after an average interval of 16 months. Those women with higher titers of rheumatoid factor were more likely to remain positive (81%). Of the women having positive tests, 5.4% were identified as having rheumatoid disease.
75745 Binding of latent rheumatoid synovial collagenase to collagen fibrils. 1978 Mar 1 Collagenase released from rheumatoid synovial cells in culture is in a latent form. Subsequently, it may be activated by limited proteolysis. This study was designed to determine whether latent enzyme could bind to collagen fibrils and await activation. The data showed that latent collagenase bound to fibrils equally well at 24 degrees C and 37 degrees C, but that this represented little more than half the binding achieved by active enzyme at temperatures lower than that at which fibrils can be degraded. Binding was not inhibited by the presence of alpha2 macroglobulin, the principal proteinase inhibitor of plasma which cannot complex with inactive or latent collagenase but readily complexes with active species of enzyme. The data support the hypotheses that inactive forms of collagenase accumulate in tissues by binding to substrate, and that activation by proteases such as plasmin initiates collagen breakdown.
196798 Phagocytosis of immune complexes by polymorphonuclear leucocytes in patients with Felty's 1977 Jun The possible role of phagocytosis of circulating immune complexes by neutrophils in the production of the neutropenia of Felty's syndrome has been investigated. Normal neutrophils phagocytosed massive inclusions from the sera from twelve of fifteen patients with Felty's syndrome when incubated with these sera. Such inclusions were phagocytosed from only three of fifteen patients with seropositive RA who did not have Felty's syndrome. Normal neutrophils were more effective than patient neutrophils with regard to phagocytosis of inclusions from the patients' serum suggesting a defect in phagocytic function of Felty's neutrophils. The titre of granulocyte-reactive antinuclear antibodies did not appear to be related to the degree of neutropenia. The data suggest that phagocytosis of circulating immune complexes by neutrophils may interfere with the function of these cells in combating infection and also render them susceptible to removal from the circulation thus leading to the development of neutropenia.
6735504 Spontaneous plasma exchange by gravity. 1984 May Lysagth et al have reported a semplified model of spontaneous plasmapheresis by placing between an A-V shunt a conventional plasmafilter. On the basis of this experience we tried to make a further semplification of this apparatus using a single venous puncture, obtaining by gravity sufficient transmembrane pressure for plasma separation. By alternatively lowering and elevating the system, plasma is separated from the blood and packed red cells are reinfused after a new pass through the filter with FFP or plasma substitutes.
4015721 IgG and IgM rheumatoid factor synthesis in rheumatoid synovial membrane cell cultures. 1985 Jul The detection of rheumatoid factors (RFs) in synovial membranes and fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has suggested that local production of these antiimmunoglobulin autoantibodies may have a role in the pathogenesis of synovitis. To quantitate RF synthesis in the rheumatoid synovial membrane, 12 synovial specimens were obtained from patients with seropositive RA, 5 from patients with seronegative RA, and 6 from patients with other arthritides. Single cell suspensions were cultured, and supernatants were analyzed for IgG, IgM, IgG-RF, and IgM-RF by solid-phase radioimmunoassays. IgM-RF was detected in all of the 12 seropositive culture supernatants, and IgG-RF was detected in 8 of the 12. Addition of cycloheximide to the cultures resulted in a greater than or equal to 40% decreased in the amount of IgM-RF. A similar decrease in IgG-RF occurred in the 4 cultures in which the largest amounts of IgG-RF were detected. IgM-RF synthesis represented 7.3 +/- 0.7% (mean +/- SEM) of the total IgM produced, and IgG-RF represented 2.6 +/- 1.1% (mean +/- SEM) of the IgG synthesized in those cultures with detectable IgG-RF. Cultures of synovial membrane cells (SMC) from seronegative RA patients or patients with other arthritides did not contain detectable amounts of IgM-RF or IgG-RF. Selective synthesis of RF by seropositive synovium was suggested by the observation that the fractions of synthesized IgM with RF activity were greater in the SMC supernatants than in paired sera in all cases, and the fractions of IgG with RF activity were greater in the SMC supernatants of 3 of the 4 cases in which substantial amounts of IgG-RF were produced. Comparison of the percentages of newly synthesized IgM with RF activity in paired cultures of SMC and peripheral blood mononuclear cells similarly indicated selective synthesis of IgM-RF by the synovium. These results demonstrate active and selective synthesis of both IgG-RF and IgM-RF by seropositive SMC. However, RFs account for only a minor fraction of the total Ig produced.
3871603 HLA-DR4 in ankylosing spondylitis with different patterns of joint involvement. 1985 Jan Fifty patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) confined to the spine and sacroiliac joints were compared with 50 cases of AS complicated by various patterns of non-axial joint involvement. Radiological and clinical features were evaluated and HLA-DR4 typing was carried out. This antigen was found in 16% of 200 normal individuals in 18% of patients suffering from exclusively axial AS, and in 54% of patients with additional purely peripheral joint involvement (wrist, finger, ankle, toe). The possibility that HLA-DR4 represents a non-specific marker for peripheral arthritis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is discussed.
7095672 Collagen diseases affecting the foot. 1982 May This article classifies various forms of arthritis which may affect the foot. Osteoarthritis of the foot usually involves the first metatarsophalangeal joint or the ankle, the latter usually being secondary to prior trauma. Secondary osteoarthritis of the foot is frequently due to Charcot destruction which is usually secondary to diabetic neuropathy. Seronegative spondyloarthropathies include ankylosing spondylitis and Reiter's syndrome. The three variants of psoriatic arthritis of the foot are also discussed.
366721 Benoxaprofen: a clinical trial with an unusual design. 1978 Nov Benoxaprofen is a new nonsteroidal analgesic anti-inflammatory drug with a long half-life. Preliminary studies showed that steady-state blood levels could be achieved within 24 hours of treatment using a dose of 300 mg on the first day followed by 100 mg twice daily. A double-blind cross-over trial showed that benoxaprofen was effective and well tolerated in rheumatoid arthritis. Its analgesic effect was not apparent until the sixth day of treatment. An unusual trial design was used with treatment periods of unequal duration. This design has the advantage of allowing a new drug to be given for long enough to determine the time course of its action, while sparing patients prolonged treatment with placebo.
3871679 IgM rheumatoid factor elaboration by blood, bone marrow, and synovial mononuclear cells in 1985 Mar IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) elaboration by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial, bone marrow, and blood mononuclear cells (MNC) is reported. IgM RF was prepared from RF-positive sera by sequential euglobulin precipitation, Sephacryl S300 gel filtration, and IgG-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Purified material, which contained no detectable IgG or IgA, was used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantitate cellular elaboration of IgM RF. Excellent standard curves (r2 = 0.98) were obtained without nonspecific binding of samples or antisera to IgG-coated microtiter plates and without cross-reactivity of standards with antisera other than anti-IgM. We found RA blood MNC (11 patients) spontaneously averaged 15 ng/ml IgM RF (6% of total IgM produced), but elaborated 254 ng/ml IgM RF following pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulation (22 patients), exceeding that of 13 normal controls. Bone marrow MNC spontaneously (4 patients) produced 71 ng/ml IgM RF and secreted 78 ng/ml IgM RF with PWM stimulation (9 patients). In contrast synovial fluid MNC (5 patients) spontaneously elaborated 6652 ng/ml IgM RF, significantly (P less than 0.05) more than blood or bone marrow MNC; PWM-stimulated synovial fluid MNC (5 patients) produced 5472 ng/ml IgM RF. These observations confirm selective localization of activated, IgM RF-producing cells to the rheumatoid synovial space.
1078777 Rheumatoid nodulosis: an unusual variant of rheumatoid disease. 1975 Jan A middle-aged man developed multiple subcutaneous nodules associated with palindromic rheumatism. There was little evidence of synovitis; however multiple cyst-like intraosseous radiolucencies were noted. Nodules from two sites were histologically typical rheumatoid nodules. Subjective and objective improvement occurred during penicillamine therapy. This clincial presentation seems sufficiently distinctive to warrant characterization as a variant of rheumatoid disease termed by us: rheumatoid nodulosis.
547965 The clinical significance of the valve mechanism in communicating popliteal cysts. 1979 In a previous investigation of 41 patients presenting with distended popliteal cysts, a valvular mechanism was demonstrated in 25 cases by means of a specific arthrographic procedure. In the present study the clinical symptoms and signs from the popliteal space and from the joint were assessed and related to the presence or absence of a valvular mechanism. By arthroscopy or arthrotomy seventeen associated knee disorders were diagnosed, e.g., synovitis, osteoarthritis, and tears of a semilunar cartilage. Intraarticular symptoms and intrinsic joint diseases were significantly correlated to the absence of a valve mechanism. The presence of a valve mechanism was indicative of the absence of pathological findings in the joint.
6194296 Interferon in synovial fluid and serum of patients with rheumatic disease. 1983 Aug Interferon (IFN) was sought in simultaneously obtained samples of synovial fluid (SF) and serum from patients with a variety of rheumatological diseases. IFN was identified in 11 of 84 samples of SF and 10 of 84 specimens of serum. IFN positive specimens were contributed by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, pseudogout, coccidioidomycosis and unclassified arthritis. Significantly, IFN was frequently found either in SF or in serum but generally not in both of the simultaneously obtained fluids. The highest titers of IFN found in SF were from patients with RA.
1083127 [Stimulation of immunoglobin synthesis and rheumatoid-factor production by rheumatoid syno 1976 Jan Factors capable of stimulating the synthesis of immunoglobulin by circulating human lymphocytes, as measured by a radioactive immune coprecipitation method, have been demonstrated in rheumatoid synovial eeffusions but not in effusions from patients with other arthritides. The activity of the ffusions was localized in two fractions eluted from an agarose A 5m column: fraction II eluting with IgM and fraction E eluting with albumin. Fraction II enhanced immunoglobulin synthesis only in circulating rheumatoid lymphocytes, while fraction V enhanced immunoglobulin synthesis in both rheumatoid and normal lymphocytes. Similar active fractions were found in culture supernatants of rheumatoid synovial tissue. Enhanced immunoglobulin synthesis was also observed following addition of aggregated IgG to rheumatoid lymphocytes. Finally, increased synthesis of anti-IgG (rheumatoid factor) was observed following addition of fractions II and V to rheumatoid but not to normal lymphocytes. The possible relationship of the active material in fraction II to IgG-containing immune complexes and the active material in fraction V to a T cell produced lymphokine-like mediator of T cell function are discussed. The findings presented provide evidence that in addition to antigenic stimulation, the action of one or more enhancing factors liberated by antigen stimulated mononuclear cells, possibly T lymphocytes, plays a role in the immunoglobulin synthesis observed in rheumatoid synovial tissue.
141867 [Rheumatoid factor in systemic lupus erythematosus]. 1976 1. Rheumatoid factors were found in 12 of a total of 105 SLE patients. 2. Rheumatoid factors were found especially in patients with additional chronic polyarthritis, whereas it was not possible to find a relation between these factors and the age of patients and the duration of disease, respectively. 3. There was no difference between SLE and progressive polyarthritis as regrads the cold precipitation of rheumatoid factors. 4. In vitro fixation of the complement to antinuclear factors was not hindered by rheumatoid factors. 5. Renal lesions and uremia were observed in SLE patients with and without rheumatoid factors, the percentages being roughly the same in the two groups.
956220 Modular total knee-replacement arthroplasty. A review of eighty-nine patients. 1976 Sep Fifty-eight osteoarthritic and thirty-one rheumatoid patients underwent modular total knee-replacement arthroplasty. The major indication for the operation was relief of pain. Contraindications to this resurfacing arthroplasty included varus-valgus instability of over 20 degrees, combined varus-valgus instability with flexion contracture of over 40 degrees, marked recurvatum, and predominant patellofemoral symptoms. In 59 per cent of the osteoarthritic and 58 per cent of the rheumatoid patients, complete relief of pain was evident when they were evaluated twenty-four months after surgery, while another 35 per cent of each group had only mild pain related to inclement weather. Their ability to walk long distances without support or limp was increased. Range of motion and ability to climb stairs were not significantly improved.
3978946 Arthroplasty of the thumb basal joints. 1985 May Implant arthroplasty reconstruction of the thumb basal joints can provide pain-free, stable mobility and improved strength. The complications are few and essentially retrievable. The recommended operative procedures are challenging and must be carefully executed to obtain rewarding results.