RABC

Browse

Search for: rheumatoid arthritis methotrexate autoimmune disease biomarker gene expression GWAS HLA genes non-HLA genes

PMID	Title	PublicationDate	abstract
392094	Increasing dose of naproxen in rheumatoid arthritis: use with and without corticosteroids.	1979 Jul	A group of 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (half of whom received prednisone for 12 weeks before and then during the study) participated in a double-blind trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of 3 dosages of naproxen (125, 250, and 500 mg b.i.d.). Increasing dosages of naproxen were associated with increasing levels of therapeutic response and increasing serum levels of naproxen with no evidence of toxicity. Corticosteroid patients did not exhibit the same pattern of increasing levels of efficacy. The study demonstrates a dosage-related increasing pattern of efficacy for naproxen up to 1,000 mg/day, a pattern not yet demonstrated for the other non-steroidal antinflammatory drugs.
189561	Atlanto-axial fusion in rheumatoid arthritis. A new method of fixation with wire and bone	1976 Dec	Twenty-eight occipito-cervical fusions performed over the past 4 years in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are discussed. All of the patients with one exception had signs of neurological involvement preoperatively due to pressure on occipital nerve roots, spinal cord and/or vertebral arteries. A surgical technique using wire, pin and bone cement and permitting early mobilization without external fixation was used and is described in detail. The clinical results were excellent in 21 cases with an additional five patients showing improvement. One patient did not benefit from surgery and one had no symptoms preoperatively. The results are encouraging and the possibility of early mobilization (the day after surgery) is of the utmost importance for this group of patients.
6884959	[Rheumatism--a disease of civilization? Incidence of inflammatory rheumatic diseases in So	1983 Jul 14	The population of Southern Africa is currently estimated at least 40 million and comprises people of 3 major--groups Negroid, Khoisan and Caucasoid. In addition to these, there are also smaller groups whose origin is Asiatic or Oriental, and a mixed group (coloured) which has resulted from the miscegenation between the Negroid-Caucasoid and other groups [1]. This great diversity of peoples and cultures permits unique opportunities for studies in comparative medicine which may provide valuable information about the pathogenesis and natural history of disease. The rheumatic diseases have not been looked at in this comparative way until recently. This is, in part, because the demands of infective and nutritional diseases on medical services have tended to overshadow the rheumatic diseases. This paper reviews the investigation of inflammatory rheumatic disease in Southern Africa.
6419282	The application of quantitative cytochemistry to the study of diseases of the connective t	1983	The connective tissues are a complex organisation of tissues, cells and intercellular materials spread throughout the body and are subject to a large number of diseases. Such complexity makes the study of the metabolism of the connective tissues in health and more particularly in disease states difficult if one uses conventional biochemical methodology. Fortunately the techniques of quantitative cytochemistry, as developed in recent years, have made it possible to study the metabolism of even such complex and refractory connective tissues as bone. Using properly validated assays of enzyme activity in unfixed sections from various tissues a number of the diseases of the connective tissues have been studied. For example the synovia from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and related conditions have been studied using these techniques and marked alterations in the metabolism of the synovial lining cell population of this tissue have been demonstrated. These alterations in metabolism are believed to be related to the destruction of cartilage and bone found in such diseases. Investigations of the metabolism of the chondrocytes of articular cartilage in a strain of mice which spontaneously develops osteoarthritis has revealed a lack of certain key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in precisely those areas where degradation of the matrix of articular cartilage begins suggesting a causal relationship between these events. These same techniques have been used to study the cellular kinetics and metabolism of the dermis and epidermis in the disfiguring disease, psoriasis. The metabolism of healing bone fractures, the diagnosis and treatment of the mucopolysaccharidoses and the metabolic effects of currently used anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic drugs have also been examined. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of these studies has been the development and use of the technique of the cytochemical bioassay (CBA) to study hormonally mediated diseases of the connective tissues. Such studies have recently shed new light on the molecular lesion in pseudohypoparathyroidism. Though still in their relative infancy the studies described in this review show the potential inherent in the use of quantitative cytochemistry for the study of diseases of the connective tissues.
6461666	Effects of methyl-B12 on the in vitro immune functions of human T lymphocytes.	1982 Apr	Studies were performed using an in vitro assay system to determine whether or not methyl-B12 could affect human T-cell function. When T cells were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and allogeneic B cells, methyl-B12 did not enhance T-cell proliferation. In contrast, remarkable enhancing effects of methyl-B12 on the proliferative response to concanavalin A (Con A) and autologous B cells at suboptimal concentrations were observed, ranging from 0.1 to 10 micrograms/ml. Concentrations of methyl-B12 sufficient to enhance cellular proliferation were able to enhance the activity of helper T cells for immunoglobulin synthesis of B cells by pokeweed mitogen. Furthermore, the presence of methyl-B12 significantly potentiated the induction of suppressor cells in Con A-activated cultures. These results suggest that methyl-B12 could modulate lymphocyte function through augmenting regulatory T-cell activities.
1011194	[Arthrography of the fingers and carpus in inflammatory rheumatic conditions (author's tra	1976 Dec	Arthrography before isotope synoviorthesis of the fingers and wrists was carried out in 185 patients suffering from inflammatory rheumatic conditions. Signs of synovitis were found in approximately 80 per cent of cases and were accompanied by rupture of the synovial capsule (70 per cent) and capsular retraction (in advanced forms). Lymphatic passage was seen in 30 to 40 per cent of cases. Two interesting points may be emphasised: 1 degrees Arthrographic lesions may precede bone erosion. 2 degrees The contrast medium fills the eodes and erosions in active forms. Arthrography, which is essential to satisfactory synoviorthesis, is also of diagnostic and prognostic value.
7063188	Total knee replacement with a variable axis knee prosthesis.	1982 Jan	The Variable Axis Knee Prosthesis was designed to accommodate a wide range of problems in the knee and to minimize the complication of loosening. The results of the series, which now spans over seven years at this institution, have confirmed the effectiveness of the prosthesis in providing stability and firm fixation. Patellar alignment remains critical for optimum results. A wide variety of abnormalities, including failed prostheses, severe flexion contractures, arthrodesed knees, and severely osteoporotic bone, can be effectively managed utilizing this device. As with any other total knee prosthesis, the use of this prosthesis should be restricted to those knees with definite radiographic evidence of joint impairment in addition to significant symptoms. Relative contraindications include previous sepsis, neuropathic joint disease, and gross ligamentous incompetency. If these indications and limitations are adhered to, the results from knee replacement can be expected to equal or exceed those from total hip replacement over the long term.
748548	The relation of rheumatoid arthritis to hypogammaglobulinemia.	1978 Fall	The following hypothesis is proposed. Hypogammaglobulinemia is produced by an excess of normal 7S complement-fixing anti-immunoglobulin which is specific for "altered" Fc portions of immunoglobulin. This is present lesser amount in normal blood, is not reactive with the native immunoglobulins of blood, and plays a part in controlling the normal level of antibody production. When it is present in excess, some patients respond by producing also an excess of normal non-complement-fixing 7S anti-immunoglobulin of the same specificity as well as classical 19S IgM rheumatoid factor. These latter agents successfully prevent the hypogammaglobulinemia but they produce "side effects". These "side effects" constitute classical rheumatoid arthritis.
3967442	Unicompartmental and total knee arthroplasty.	1985 Jan	Pain is the main indication for a total knee arthroplasty, and the choice of prosthesis should depend on the arthritic involvement of the joint. There is no substitute for early motion after the operation to regain knee motion. Unicompartmental replacement is valuable to preserve ligament and bony stock in properly selected cases. Excellent results can be expected in even elderly patients with severe arthritis if the operation is well performed.
6181746	Natural killer (NK) cell activity of peripheral blood, synovial fluid, and synovial tissue	1982 Oct	Natural killer (NK) cell activity was investigated in peripheral blood, synovial fluid, and synovial tissue lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Unfractionated lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and non-T lymphocytes from the 3 compartments of JRA patients had reduced activity compared with that of normal peripheral blood lymphocytes (with p values usually between 0.05 and 0.1). Unfractionated synovial tissue lymphocytes of RA patients also showed reduced cytotoxicity (0.05 less than p less than 0.1), whereas peripheral blood lymphocytes exerted normal NK cell activity. The NK activity was exerted by cells both with and without Fc gamma receptors. The highest cytotoxicity was observed in Fc gamma receptor-positive cells, both in peripheral blood and synovial fluid, since more than 70% reduction in NK activity was found after depletion of Fc gamma receptor-positive cells. No evidence of lymphocytotoxic antibodies or other factors with influence on NK cells was observed in the patients' sera.
6467864	Immune reactivity in palindromic rheumatism: response to mitogens.	1984 Jun	Lymphocyte responsiveness to various mitogens was studied in patients with palindromic rheumatism. The results show an enhanced lymphocyte reactivity to T-dependent mitogens during the first few days after an acute attack of the disease.
6995808	[The application of image analysis in immunoenzyme histology (author's transl)].	1980	Specific cell markers were revealed on fixed and paraplast embedded human tissues by the indirect immunoperoxydase methode using immunoadsorbed antibodies. Immunenzymhistology proved to be a new field for image analysis.
679535	GSB knee joint: a further possibility, principle, results.	1978 May	The GSB Knee joint is a nonconstrained hinge joint, which combines the advantages of the so-called condylar or surface prosthesis with those of the constrained hinge joints. This report is of observations on the results and complications in 150 arthroplasties performed over a 5 year period.
7011688	Clinical therapeutic trial of aspirin and azapropazone in rheumatoid arthritis when prescr	1981	A double-blind, crossover trial was carried out to assess the clinical efficacy of 3.6 g aspirin, 1200 mg azapropazone and the two drugs together in 24 adult patients with classical or definite rheumatoid disease. Pain score, morning stiffness and patients' assessment of pain were significantly improved for each drug regimen when compared to placebo. There was no significant difference among the individual drug regimens. Azapropazone was the best drug regimen in terms of improving pain score, morning stiffness and patient assessment of pain, but this was not statistically significant. It is concluded that there is no justification for prescribing aspirin with azapropazone in patients with rheumatoid disease.
6310725	Increased responsiveness of rheumatoid B lymphocytes to stimulation by Epstein-Barr virus.	1983	Blood lymphocytes from rheumatoid patients and normal subjects were examined for responsiveness in culture to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection by outgrowth assay and 3HTdR uptake. With both unseparated and B-cell-enriched lymphocytes the frequency and rate of outgrowth to form permanent cell lines were significantly higher for rheumatoid than for normal cells. In B-enriched rheumatoid preparations the proportion of responsive cells was also greater, and DNA synthesis was induced by a lower infecting dose of EBV in rheumatoid than in normal cells. The percentage of autologous T cells needed to ensure regression of B-cell proliferation in EBV-infected cultures was considerably higher with rheumatoid than with normal cells. These findings suggest that in rheumatoid arthritis the abnormal lymphocyte responsiveness to EBV has two components, a T-cell immunoregulatory defect, and a separate increased responsiveness of B cells to EBV.
6602594	Intermediate-dose intramuscular methylprednisolone acetate in the treatment of rheumatic d	1983 Jun	Treatment with a high-dose, intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone has been reported in numerous cases of rheumatic diseases. The optimal routes of administration, dosage, dosage interval, and other factors are unknown. This report describes uncontrolled clinical observations with a single dose of 320 mg of intramuscular methylprednisolone acetate in patients with rheumatic disease (12 with rheumatoid arthritis, 2 with spondyloarthropathy). This treatment may provide a useful therapeutic adjunct in selected clinical circumstances.
6448996	Immune complex-mediated rheumatic diseases: the evidence and the enigmas.	1980 Nov	Clearly, many of the connective tissue disorders are intimately associated with either focal tissue evidence of immune complex deposition or markedly elevated levels of complexes during acute disease activity. In many diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, the immune complexes have been firmly established as basic elements in pathogenesis. In other disorders, however, the presence or measurable elevation of circulating immune complex materials may represent an epiphenomenon that reflects tissue injury secondary to the underlying inflammatory process. Much more precise definition of these problems awaits further longitudinal study.
153576	Metabolic abnormalities of tryptophan and nicotinic acid in patients with rheumatoid arthr	1978 Nov	The mean plasma total tryptophan concentration of 13 long-standing rheumatoid arthritis patients was found to be lower than that of seven nonrheumatoid control subjects, but the plasma nicotinic acid concentration was unchanged. In the rheumatoid patients the urinary excretion of the tryptophan metabolites, kynurenine, xanthurenic acid and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, was increased several fold, but the excretion of N-methylnicotinamide was normal. These findings are discussed in relationship to the dietary intakes of tryptophan, nicotinic acid and pyridoxine, the effect of antirheumatoid drugs on plasma tryptophan and liver tryptophan pyrrolase, and requirement of rheumatoid patients for pyridoxine.
236088	Laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatologic diseases.	1975 Jun 7	Improved laboratory investigative techniques now foster an increased clinical interest in and awareness of the rheumatologic disease. This review is a discussion of the relevance of laboratory tests used in the more common rheumatologic disorders and of their role in both the diagnosis and assessment of these diseases from the standpoint of the practising clinician.
6254787	Pleural granulocytes with cytoplasmic inclusions from patients with malignant lung tumours	1980 Jun	Granulocytes with cytoplasmic inclusions (RA = Rheumatoid Arthritis cells) have previously been found in pleural effusions of rheumatoid and tuberculous origin. We now report the finding of RA-cells in effusions from patients suffering from bronchogenic carcinomas of the squamous-cell type and malignant mesothelioma. Such cells occurred only rarely in other types of primary or secondary lung tumour.