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ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
26479130 Spectrum of Smoking-related Lung Diseases: Imaging Review and Update. 2016 Mar There is increased awareness of smoking-related lung diseases other than lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Concurrently, there is general acceptance that there is difficulty in establishing a specific diagnosis of smoking-related interstitial lung disease (ILD), as many patients may not undergo biopsy to facilitate a specific histopathologic diagnosis. Cases that do proceed to biopsy may demonstrate multiple abnormalities, and histologic overlap between different disease processes may confound the picture. This review outlines the key aspects of smoking-related lung disease, including entities secondary to smoking-related lung inflammation such as respiratory bronchiolitis-ILD, desquamative idiopathic pneumonia, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, as well as chronic fibrosing lung diseases strongly associated with cigarette smoke including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, and rheumatoid arthritis-ILD. The focus will be on incorporation of clinical findings, key pulmonary function testing parameters, high-resolution computer tomography (HRCT) findings, and pathologic correlates in refining the differential diagnosis and differentiating between the various entities.
26453502 Inflammation induced loss of skeletal muscle. 2015 Nov Inflammation is an important contributor to the pathology of diseases implicated in skeletal muscle dysfunction. A number of diseases and disorders including inflammatory myopathies and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) are characterized by chronic inflammation or elevation of the inflammatory mediators. While these disease states exhibit different pathologies, all have in common the loss of skeletal muscle mass and a deregulated skeletal muscle physiology. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are key contributors to chronic inflammation found in many of these diseases. This section of the review focuses on some of the known inflammatory disorders like COPD, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and inflammatory myopathies that display skeletal muscle atrophy and also provides the reader an overview of the mediators of inflammation, their signaling pathways, and mechanisms of action. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Muscle Bone Interactions".
26431473 Integrated photoacoustic and diffuse optical tomography system for imaging of human finger 2016 Mar In this study, we developed a dual-modality tomographic system that integrated photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and diffuse optical tomography (DOT) into a single platform for imaging human finger joints with fine structures and associated optical properties. In PAI, spherical focused transducers were utilized to collect acoustic signals, and the concept of virtual detector was applied in a conventional back-projection algorithm to improve the image quality. A finite-element based reconstruction algorithm was employed to quantitatively recover optical property distribution in the objects for DOT. The phantom results indicate that PAI has a maximum lateral resolution of 70 µm in resolving structures of targets. DOT was able to recover both optical absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of targets accurately. To validate the potential of this system in clinical diagnosis of joint diseases, the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints of 4 healthy female volunteers were imaged. We successfully obtained high-resolution images of the phalanx and the surrounding soft tissue via PAI, and recovered both optical absorption and reduced scattering coefficients of phalanx using DOT. The in vivo results suggest that this dual-modality system has the potential for the early diagnosis of joint diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Integrated PAI/DOT imaging interface (top) and typical reconstruction of structures and associated optical properties of a female finger joint via PAI and DOT (bottom).
26420500 T2 black lesions on routine knee MRI: differential considerations. 2016 Jul The majority of abnormal findings or lesions on T2-weighted fast spin-echo (FSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are hyperintense due to increased perfusion or fluid content, such as infections, tumours or synovitis. Hypointense lesions on T2-weighted images (both fat-suppressed and non-fat-suppressed) are less common and can sometimes be overlooked. Such lesions have limited differential diagnostic possibilities, and include vacuum phenomenon, loose body, tenosynovial giant cell tumour, rheumatoid arthritis, haemochromatosis, gout, amyloid, chondrocalcinosis, hydroxyapetite deposition disease, lipoma arborescens, arthrofibrosis and iatrogenic lesions. These lesions often show characteristic appearances and predilections in the knee. In this article, the authors describe the MRI features of hypointense T2 lesions on routine knee MRI and outline a systematic diagnostic approach towards their evaluation. Key Points • Hypointense lesions on T2 images (T2 Dark Lesions) encompass limited diagnostic possibilities. • T2 Dark lesions often show characteristic appearances and predilections in the knee. • A systematic diagnostic approach will help radiologists make the correct diagnosis.
26328902 Superficialis Sling (Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Tenodesis) for Swan Neck Reconstructio 2015 Oct Swan neck deformity, or hyperextension of the proximal interphalangeal joint, may occur secondary to trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy, or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and can be treated with tenodesis of one slip of the flexor digitorum sublimis tendon. This technique has several variations, differing primarily in the specific location and method that a single slip of the flexor digitorum sublimis tendon is secured, but they all serve to create a static volar restraint against hyperextension. Options include tunneling the tendon through the bone of the proximal phalanx, attaching the tendon to the A1 or A2 pulley, or securing the tendon with bone anchors in the proximal phalanx.
25470136 Novel insights into Tim-4 function in autoimmune diseases. 2015 Jun T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-4 (Tim-4) was first recognized as a costimulatory molecule regulating T-cell activation. Dysregulation of Tim-4 has been found in some autoimmune conditions, particularly in the immune cells. Recently, Tim-4 was found to be critical for regulating T cells, with the ability of inhibiting naïve CD4(+) T cells and Th17 cells, increasing Th2 cell development. Tim-4 can also enhance T cell expansion via linker for activation of T cells, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt) signaling pathways. Moreover, the Tim-4 signaling pathway may affect multiple molecular processes in autoimmune diseases. A number of previous studies have demonstrated that Tim-4 influences chronic autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, an association between Tim-4 polymorphisms and susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases have been identified, such as RA. Taken together, recent works have indicated that Tim-4 may represent a novel target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In this article, we will discuss the Tim-4 function and the therapeutic potential of modulating the Tim-4 in autoimmune diseases.
25440698 [Infliximab is effective in difficult-to-control peripheral ulcerative keratitis. A report 2015 May Peripheral ulcerative keratitis is caused by an inflammatory and destructive process of the perilimbal peripheral cornea. This inflammation is due to immune complex deposition in this region of the cornea and in adjacent vessels. It can be idiopathic, or a manifestation of systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis of small vessels associated with ANCA, relapsing polychondritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Crohn's disease. Its treatment includes the use of high-dose corticosteroids and, in some cases, the concomitant use of immunosuppressants such as methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide or cyclosporine. The use of immunobiological agents can be a strategy in cases of difficult control. The authors describe the treatment of three patients who, after failure with the use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants, showed good response after the use of infliximab.
24371251 Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: A Focused Review. 2015 Oct The connective tissue diseases (CTDs) are a group of systemic disorders characterized by autoimmunity and autoimmune-mediated organ damage. The lung is a frequent target and all components of the respiratory system are at risk. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) represents a broad group of diffuse parenchymal lung injury patterns characterized by varying degrees of inflammation and fibrosis, is a common manifestation of CTD particularly common in systemic sclerosis, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis, and is a leading cause of significant morbidity and mortality. The lung injury patterns of CTD-associated ILD (CTD-ILD) mirror those of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and may arise at any time during the course of the CTD or may be the first manifestation of CTD. Patients with CTD that present with respiratory failure often present significant diagnostic dilemmas. Thorough and comprehensive assessments to exclude respiratory *infection, acute interstitial pneumonia, medication toxicity, pulmonary embolism, cardiac dysfunction, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage are the fundamental components for the evaluation of such patients. Furthermore, patients with CTD are also at risk of acute exacerbations of underlying ILD. Acute exacerbations are manifested by subacute respiratory deterioration with worsening hypoxemia in the setting of new radiographic abnormalities. The prognosis of patients with CTD having respiratory failure is often quite poor, highlighting the need for prompt and thorough clinical assessments to determine the underlying etiology and implementation of appropriate therapeutic strategies.
28053884 Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.): From a variety of traditional medicinal applica 2017 Jan Elaeagnus angustifolia L., which is commonly known as oleaster or Russian olive, is a deciduous plant from Elaeagnacea family. This plant can tolerate and survive a wide variety of environmental conditions. Different parts of E. angustifolia plant, especially the fruits and flowers, have been used traditionally in treating a variety of common illnesses such as nausea, cough, asthma, fever, jaundice, and diarrhea. The use of fruit powder and extract of E. angustifolia L. have shown to be effective in alleviating pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and also in reducing the healing time of wounds in injured person. In addition, some recent reports have indicated the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer and some other properties of oleaster plant. The other important property of this plant would be its role in bio-monitoring the environment for some toxic elements and also its action as a bio-fertilizer agent in distressed lands. It seems that with more advanced studies on E. angustifolia L. and its bioactive components, this plant might be potentially effective and can be used as a natural alternative resource in pharmaceutical industries for treating chronic and serious problems, Fig. 1.
27706175 The Production of a Stable Infliximab Powder: The Evaluation of Spray and Freeze-Drying fo 2016 In prospect of developing an oral dosage form of Infliximab, for treatment of Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, freeze-drying (vial vs Lyoguard trays) and spray-drying were investigated as production method for stable powders. Dextran and inulin were used in combination with sucrose as stabilizing excipients. The drying processes did not affect Infliximab in these formulations, i.e. both the physical integrity and biological activity (TNF binding) were retained. Accelerated stability studies (1 month at 60°C) showed that the TNF binding ability of Infliximab was conserved in the freeze-dried formulations, whereas the liquid counterpart lost all TNF binding. After thermal treatment, the dried formulations showed some chemical modification of the IgG in the dextran-sucrose formulation, probably due to Maillard reaction products. This study indicates that, with the appropriate formulation, both spray-drying and freeze-drying may be useful for (bulk) powder production of Infliximab.
27543028 Evaluation of chemical labeling methods for identifying functional arginine residues of pr 2016 Sep 7 Arginine residues undergo several kinds of post-translational modifications (PTMs). These PTMs are associated with several inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, and diabetes. Mass spectrometric studies of arginine modified proteins and peptides are very important, not only to identify the reactive arginine residues but also to understand the tandem mass spectrometry behavior of these peptides for assigning the sequences unambiguously. Herein, we utilize tandem mass spectrometry to report the performance of two widely used arginine labeling reagents, 1,2-cyclohexanedione (CHD) and phenylglyoxal (PG) with several arginine containing peptides and proteins. Time course labeling studies were performed to demonstrate the selectivity of the reagents in proteins or protein digests. Structural studies on the proteins were also explored to better understand the reaction sites and position of arginine residues. We found CHD showed better labeling efficiencies compared to phenylglyoxal. Reactive arginine profiling on a purified albumin protein clearly pointed out the cellular glycation modification site for this protein with high confidence. We believe these detailed mass-spectrometric studies will provide significant input to profile reactive arginine residues in large-scale studies; therefore, targeted proteomics can be performed to the short listed reactive sites for cellular arginine modifications.
27516029 The value of histopathological diagnosis in the elderly patients with granulomatous dermat 2016 Granulomatous inflammations are a particular type of chronic septic or aseptic inflammation, in which infectious or non-infectious agents are difficult to eliminate by the immune system. These are type IV hypersensitivity reactions mediated by pre-sensitized T-lymphocytes cells CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Disorders included in this category are: tuberculosis, leprosy, syphilis, sarcoidosis, type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. At cutaneous level, this pattern of granulomatous reaction is characterized by a chronic inflammation with formation of granulomas consisting of a variable number of histiocytes, multinucleated giant cells and lymphocytes. Granulomatous dermatoses should be differentiated from other primary or secondary lesions affecting the skin such as inflammation or tumors. Often granulomatous dermatoses can be confused with other skin disorders, both clinically and histological. Histopathology examination can add important information and clarify the diagnosis. This paper presents a series of three clinical cases of granulomatous skin occurring in the elderly patients confirmed at histology examination. Clinical and histology criteria were analyzed, along with specific differential diagnosis, based on data from the literature.
27481040 The clinical presentation and therapy of diseases related to anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic a 2016 Oct Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) are a family of autoantibodies that react with proteins predominantly expressed in cytoplasmic granules of polymorphonuclear neutrophil granulocytes (PMNs). ANCA was initially detected using indirect immunofluorescence, allowing for different patterns such as p-ANCA (perinuclear) and c-ANCA (cytoplasmic) to be distinguished. Today it is common to detect the antibodies by immunochemical assays such as ELISA using purified proteins as antigens. The strongest association with ANCA is found in the pauci-immune small vessel vasculitides granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). There is compelling evidence that ANCA contributes to the pathogenesis in these conditions. ANCA also occurs in 30%-40% of patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and anti-GBM disease, but is uncommon in other forms of vasculitis. ANCA with different specificities have been described with varying frequencies in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, endocarditis, chronic infections and hematopoietic malignancies. ANCA can also develop as an adverse event during pharmacological treatment. These entities are treated quite differently, with therapies ranging from immunosuppressive agents over antibiotics to simply removing the causative drug. A positive ANCA test thus requires a careful diagnostic work-up.
27391903 Retinal toxicity induced by antimalarial drugs: literature review and case report. 2016 Jun 17 Antimalarial drugs are widely used in several countries for control of rheumatologic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. They are still used in Mexico because of their low cost and few secondary effects, most of which are mild and reversible. Even so, at an ophthalmological level, they could produce irreversible visual damage, which is why it is important to have ophthalmological evaluation and proper follow up. We present a clinical case as an example of characteristic ophthalmological findings as well as risk factors for retinal toxicity. We then discuss guidelines for diagnosis and follow up of patients who use antimalarial drugs for the treatment of rheumatologic illnesses.
27031422 Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1: function and regulation in bone and relate 2016 May In this review, we have highlighted work that has clearly demonstrated that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1), a negative regulator of MAPKs, is an important signaling mediator in bone, muscle, and fat tissue homeostasis and differentiation. Further, we examined recent studies with particular focus on MKP-1 overexpression or deletion and its impact on tissues connected to bone. We also summarized regulation of MKP-1 by known skeletal regulators like parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) and bone morphogenic proteins. MKP-1's integration into the pathophysiological state of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, and muscular dystrophy are examined to emphasize possible involvement of MKP-1 both at the molecular level and in disease complications such as sarcopenia- or diabetes-related osteoporosis. We predict that understanding the mechanism of MKP-1-mediated signaling in bone-muscle-fat crosstalk will be a key in coordinating their activities and developing therapeutics to improve clinical outcomes for diseases associated with advanced age.
26887006 Searching Genome-Wide Multi-Locus Associations for Multiple Diseases Based on Bayesian Inf 2017 May Taking the advantage of high-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping technology, large genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been considered to hold promise for unraveling complex relationships between genotypes and phenotypes. Current multi-locus-based methods are insufficient to detect interactions with diverse genetic effects on multifarious diseases. Also, statistic tests for high-order epistasis ( ≥ 2 SNPs) raise huge computational and analytical challenges because the computation increases exponentially as the growth of the cardinality of SNPs combinations. In this paper, we provide a simple, fast and powerful method, named DAM, using Bayesian inference to detect genome-wide multi-locus epistatic interactions in multiple diseases. Experimental results on simulated data demonstrate that our method is powerful and efficient. We also apply DAM on two GWAS datasets from WTCCC, i.e., Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes, and identify some novel findings. Therefore, we believe that our method is suitable and efficient for the full-scale analysis of multi-disease-related interactions in GWASs.
26766303 Polysaccharide-based micro/nanocarriers for oral colon-targeted drug delivery. 2016 Aug Oral colon-targeted drug delivery has attracted many researchers because of its distinct advantages of increasing the bioavailability of the drug at the target site and reducing the side effects. Polysaccharides that are precisely activated by the physiological environment of the colon hold greater promise for colon targeting. Considerable research efforts have been directed towards developing polysaccharide-based micro/nanocarriers. Types of polysaccharides for colon targeting and in vitro/in vivo assessments of polysaccharide-based carriers for oral colon-targeted drug delivery are summarised. Polysaccharide-based microspheres have gained increased importance not just for the delivery of the drugs for the treatment of local diseases associated with the colon (colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), amoebiasis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)), but also for it's potential for the delivery of anti-rheumatoid arthritis and anti-chronic stable angina drugs. Besides, Polysaccharide-based micro/nanocarriers such as microbeads, microcapsules, microparticles, nanoparticles, nanogels and nanospheres are also introduced in this review.
26765074 Adverse event monitoring of the human papillomavirus vaccines in Scotland. 2016 Apr BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are currently utilised globally in national immunisation programmes. While evidence from clinical trials and epidemiological studies suggest that the HPV vaccines are both effective and safe, concerns about the safety of the vaccine and scientifically unproven associations with severe adverse events following immunisation have led to dramatic decreases in vaccine uptake in Japan and acceptance issues in other countries. AIM: In Scotland, we utilised hospital admissions data to assess the impact of the HPV immunisation programme on the incidence of 60 diagnoses between 2004 and 2014 in both girls and boys; with boys acting as a comparator group. METHODS: Tabular and graphical outputs of the number of admissions, the incidence and the incidence ratio of 59 diagnoses were created to assess trends before and after the introduction of the HPV vaccine. Data linkage was utilised to investigate further the increase in Bell palsy diagnoses. RESULTS: Fifty-four diagnoses showed no change in incidence following the introduction of the national immunisation programme, and while small increases in incidence were observed for Bell palsy, coeliac disease, ovarian dysfunction, juvenile onset of type 1 diabetes, demyelinating disease and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, none was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous evidence, we present disaggregate data that reiterate the safety of both HPV vaccines.
26725734 Insights into the channel gating of P2X receptors from structures, dynamics and small mole 2016 Jan P2X receptors, as ATP-gated non-selective trimeric ion channels, are permeable to Na(+), K(+) and Ca(2+). Comparing with other ligand-gated ion channel families, P2X receptors are distinct in their unique gating properties and pathophysiological roles, and have attracted attention as promising drug targets for a variety of diseases, such as neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and thrombus. Several small molecule inhibitors for distinct P2X subtypes have entered into clinical trials. However, many questions regarding the gating mechanism of P2X remain unsolved. The structural determinations of P2X receptors at the resting and ATP-bound open states revealed that P2X receptor gating is a cooperative allosteric process involving multiple domains, which marks the beginning of the post-structure era of P2X research at atomic level. Here, we review the current knowledge on the structure-function relationship of P2X receptors, depict the whole picture of allosteric changes during the channel gating, and summarize the active sites that may contribute to new strategies for developing novel allosteric drugs targeting P2X receptors.
28326425 Bilateral pelvic discontinuity: a unique condition characterized by high failure rates of 2016 Dec BACKGROUND: Bilateral pelvic discontinuity is characterized by complete dissociation of the superior and inferior pelvis secondary to bone loss or fracture. The end result is a freely mobile inferior pelvis at the level of each discontinuity which presents a significant reconstruction challenge. This clinical entity has not been described previously, and the results of surgical treatment are not known. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all identified cases of pelvic discontinuity (PD) treated with revision THA at one institution. We identified 133 pelvic discontinuities. Within this group, 6 patients had bilateral simultaneous PDs. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data and radiographic imaging were reviewed preoperatively and postoperatively for the characteristics of the dissociation and assessing PD healing and fixation of components after surgery. RESULTS: There were no preoperative factors that could distinguish these patients from the rest of the group of discontinuities (3 rheumatoid arthritis, 2 osteonecrosis of the femoral head, 1 developmental dysplasia). The reconstructions performed included 2 cup/cage, 5 posterior plating and uncemented cup, 3 cage alone, and 2 cups only. Ten of 12 hips had at least 1 complication postoperatively. At final follow-up, only 1 patient (17%) had radiographic evidence that both discontinuities had healed (posterior plate with uncemented cup). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral pelvic discontinuity is rare but presents the surgeon with a major reconstructive challenge. Only 1 patient went on to radiographic healing with current treatment strategies. Continued motion of the contralateral pelvic dissociation may account for the high failure rates. Surgeons should be aware of the challenges presented by this diagnosis and develop strategies to improve outcomes.