Search for: rheumatoid arthritis methotrexate autoimmune disease biomarker gene expression GWAS HLA genes non-HLA genes
| ID | PMID | Title | PublicationDate | abstract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8846650 | Mechanism of action of cyclosporin in rheumatoid arthritis. | 1995 Sep | Heterogenous population of cells, including macrophages, synoviocytes and lymphocytes play important roles in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). T cells, however, seem to be a common thread throughout the disease process. In inhibiting T lymphocytes, cyclosporin A presents a more selective form of therapy in RA. The immunosuppressive action of cyclosporin is primarily due to the inhibition of antigen/mitogen-induced secretion of lymphokines at the transcriptional level from T cell. The inhibition of Ca2(+)-dependent signaling pathways by cyclophilin-cyclosporin complexes in T cell appears to shut down lymphokine-gene transcription. | |
| 1586264 | Siebrandus Sixtius: evidence of rheumatoid arthritis of the robust reaction type in a seve | 1992 Apr | Rheumatoid arthritis of the robust reaction type has been diagnosed in a seventeenth century Dutch priest, Siebrandus Sixtius, based on pictorial evidence of typical hand deformities and historical evidence affirming that he had chronic nodular rheumatism for many years. This case report, in conjunction with other pictorial depictions of probable rheumatoid arthritis, questions the view that rheumatoid arthritis is a modern disease which prevailed in the New World and was found in the Old World only after the discovery of America. | |
| 8291009 | Magnetic resonance imaging of bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison with ra | 1993 Nov | Bony changes in forty-four knees of patients with clinically established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and plain film radiography. In all cases MRI was clearly superior to radiographs, demonstrating 25 marginal erosions and 42 subchondral cysts, while the number seen on radiographs was 3 and 8, respectively. These results emphasize the problems in visualizing bone erosions in large joints using plain films. MRI is the method of choice for detecting early changes in RA, not only because of its high sensitivity, but also because of the ability of contrast-enhanced MRI to provide physiological characterization of these lesions. | |
| 1484943 | An epidemiological and clinical investigation of pulmonary function and respiratory sympto | 1992 Nov | Several studies have investigated lung function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis but have reached different conclusions. The main discrepancy has been between airways disease reported in 38-65 per cent of patients and interstitial pulmonary disease reported in 30-41 per cent. These variable results have probably arisen because specific lung disorders have often been diagnosed on the basis of non-specific tests of lung function which, when considered in isolation, are subject to different interpretations. We adopted a combined epidemiological and clinical approach to investigate lung function and respiratory symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Epidemiological data showed that rheumatoid arthritis is associated with a mild restrictive lung defect with reductions in mean FEV1 and FVC of 0.26 l and 0.29 l respectively and a normal FEV1/FVC ratio. The reduction in mean maximum mid-expiratory flow rate of 0.34 l/s could be explained on the basis of lung restriction and there was no evidence of widespread airways dysfunction other than that which could be explained by cigarette smoking. The clinical study showed that abnormal lung function tests in individual patients were caused by a heterogeneous group of conditions which are frequently caused, or exacerbated, by cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking, and not the rheumatoid process, was the most frequent cause of abnormal lung function in rheumatoid arthritis. | |
| 7823313 | Imaging techniques in rheumatoid arthritis. | 1994 Oct | Imaging methods have traditionally been the primary tools for documenting disease severity and progression. Radiographic methods are insensitive to early changes but eventually reflect the degree of bone destruction, cartilage space narrowing, and deformity that has occurred. Microfocal radiography is being investigated as a method to better define early erosive changes. Neither technique allows optimal examination of soft tissues (e.g., joint effusion, pannus, ligaments, and tendons). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows both soft tissues and bones to be examined. Articular cartilage imaging is currently under investigation. Despite its high cost, the noninvasive nature of MRI and the extensive information it provides, make this an exciting area for investigating the changes in rheumatoid arthritis and response to therapy. | |
| 7900045 | [The local x-ray therapy of patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. | 1994 | Long-term follow-up of 240 rheumatoid arthritis patients provided evidence for rather high efficacy of local antiinflammatory x-ray treatment: 63.7% and 37.8% of responses in 3 and 12 months, respectively. The author thinks x-ray therapy superior to local laser irradiation. More effects were reached in intraarticular injection of glucocorticoids (kenalog) prior to x-ray exposure. No side effects were registered. | |
| 8846654 | The role of T cells in rheumatoid arthritis. | 1995 Sep | The most striking arguments in favor of a T cell dependent nature of RA are the strong association of the disease with selected class II HLA haplotypes (the "shared epitope" hypothesis) and the fact that, in experimental animal models such as adjuvant arthritis, the disease can be transferred by isolated T cell lines. It is true that T cell activation at the site of inflammation is not excessive. However, there is now unequivocal evidence for focal synthesis of IL-2 and IFN-gamma in the RA synovial membrane and one may realise that a limited but specific T cell activation may be sufficient to induce or perpetuate the immune process. This same argument may explain the lack of clear TCR restriction at the sites of inflammation. Until now, no antigen has been demonstrated to initiate and/or perpetuate RA. Different antigens though have been incriminated in the pathogenesis of RA, including cartilage antigens (collagen, proteoglycans, chondrocyte antigens), heat shock proteins or exogenous (viral/bacterial) antigens. Unless one can pick up the right antigen and clone the relevant T cells, it will be very hard to directly prove a T cell-dependent nature of the disease. | |
| 8728438 | Diet and rheumatoid arthritis in women: a possible protective effect of fish consumption. | 1996 May | Some researchers have hypothesized that omega-3 fatty acids, found primarily in fish oils, may protect against the development of rheumatoid arthritis. We conducted a population-based case-control study in women, comparing 324 incident rheumatoid arthritis cases with 1,245 controls. We used a food frequency questionnaire to ascertain diet during a 1-year period 5 years before a reference date (first physician visit for joint-symptoms). Consumption of broiled or baked fish, but not of other types of fish, was associated with a decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for 1- < 2 servings and > or = 2 servings of broiled or baked fish per week, compared with < 1 serving, were 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.53-1.14] and 0.57 (95% CI = 0.35-0.93). Other analyses showed associations with protein as a percentage of calories (adjusted OR for the top quartile as compared with the bottom quartile = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.46-0.94) and total calories (adjusted OR for the top quartile = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.15-2.28). The associations with broiled or baked fish, protein, and calories became stronger when we restricted our analysis to cases positive for rheumatoid factor. These results support the hypothesis that omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis. | |
| 8543886 | Resection arthroplasty of the metacarpophalangeal joints in rheumatoid arthritis. Results | 1995 Oct | In a retrospective study of resection arthroplasty of the MP joints in rheumatoid arthritis, 23 patients (32 hands, 128 joints) have been followed for 15 to 22 years. Patient satisfaction was high, and all patients had significant pain relief. Active motion of the joints averaged 35 degrees, ranging from full extension to 35 degrees of flexion. Ankyloses developed in five hands (13 joints, 10%). Ulnar deviation of more than 15 degrees occurred in six patients (ten hands, 30%). Over the course of several years a significant remodelling of the joints was to be observed. In six hands (19%) the metacarpal heads became spontaneously restored to ball-shaped geometry. Gross metacarpal resorption was observed in nine hands (30%), causing significant shortening of the metacarpals. In one-third of patients the final result was rated as good, fair and poor, respectively. Careful patient selection is mandatory. Patients with mutilating arthritis should be excluded from the procedure; rheumatoid destruction of the wrist joint definitely influences the final result. | |
| 8423312 | Proximal row carpectomy: a multicenter study. | 1993 Jan | Twenty patients underwent proximal row carpectomy and were retrospectively evaluated for pain, motion, grip strength, functional activity, and x-ray changes at a mean follow-up of 3 1/2 years. For nonrheumatoid patients, motion decreased 15% after surgery, mean grip strength improved 22%, and 82% believed their conditions were improved and said they would repeat the procedure. The procedure failed in all three patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with mild preoperative arthritic changes had better results than those with advanced disease. | |
| 1607183 | New approaches to the study of disease in archeological New World populations. | 1992 Jun | One of the objectives of paleopathology is to clarify the role of disease in the evolution of human groups. The recovery of DNA and immunoglobulins from archeological human skeletal tissue offers a method for enhancing and expanding our knowledge about the presence and significance of disease in past human populations. DNA also might reveal the presence of genetic disease. Immunoglobulins recovered from archeological bone indicate some of the diseases to which an individual was exposed during life. This information also provides supporting evidence for anatomical observations of skeletal disease. This is illustrated by the identification of treponemal antibody in an archeological skeleton that has gross lesions suggestive of treponematosis. Similar biochemical methods could be applied to other research problems to clarify the presence of various syndromes of the inflammatory erosive arthropathies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, in New World archeological populations. Some of these syndromes are associated with DNA sequences and specific proteins that are recoverable from archeological skeletal tissue. | |
| 8605266 | The impact of rheumatoid arthritis on life activities. | 1995 Dec | OBJECTIVE: To examine the proportion of valued activities performed by persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the change in this proportion over a 5-year period and to compare the performance and loss of valued activities of persons with and without RA. METHODS: Data were drawn from a longitudinal panel study of persons with RA. Valued activities were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: Over a 5-year period, persons with RA lost approximately 10% of the activities they had valued. Losses were noted in every domain of activity. The greatest losses were seen in work-related, service, nurturant, cultural and leisure, and social participation activities. Compared to persons without arthritis, persons with RA performed fewer valued activities at baseline, and lost more valued activities over the 5-year period. CONCLUSIONS: RA takes a considerable toll on the ability of people with the disease to perform valued life activities. Other research has shown that the loss of valued activities is a strong risk factor for the development of depressive symptoms among women with RA. | |
| 8177933 | [Prognostic criteria of behavioral pain treatment in groups of patients with rheumatoid ar | 1994 Feb | The effectiveness of behavior therapy programs for the treatment of pain of various origin can be regarded as proven. However, there is a general lack of information about prognostic and indication criteria. These questions were investigated by means of a controlled, cognitive-behavioral orientated clinical study on 79 patients with the certified diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. While our study was also able to prove short-term effectiveness for all patients, some exhibited regressive effects during the six-month follow-up period. A lack of regular practice and the presence of neurotic disorders were responsible for this instability. Patients who already have neurotic disorders prior to arthritis should accordingly be given more intensive psychotherapy. In this exceeding a standard-program psychotherapy can be dealt with the disease-related and other psychosocial problems and conflicts on an integrative basis. | |
| 7940332 | [An assessment of tissue microcirculation in patients with aseptic femur head necrosis in | 1994 | Tissue microcirculation above the area of hip joint projection was investigated by 133Xe clearance from the tissue depot and laser-Doppler flowmetry in 38 rheumatoid arthritis patients with complicating aseptic necrosis in 69 heads of the femur. The methods proved reliable in diagnosis of the above microcirculatory disorders and in staging osteonecrosis. Combined use of the procedures was found effective in detection of early circulatory disorders and early aseptic necrosis. | |
| 7738961 | Normal pressure hydrocephalus associated with rheumatoid arthritis responding to prednison | 1995 Feb | We describe 2 patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicated by normal pressure hydrocephalus. After treatment with prednisone, both patients improved remarkably with respect to mental status, urinary control, and gait. We suggest that normal pressure hydrocephalus may occur as an extraarticular manifestation of RA, and studies are warranted to confirm a beneficial response to prednisone. | |
| 1593571 | Cytokines and soluble interleukin 2 receptors in rheumatoid arthritis. | 1992 Apr | Cytokines (IL-1 alpha and IL-2) and soluble interleukin 2 receptors (sIL-2r) were evaluated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and controls. In RA, serum sIL-2r and IL-1 alpha were increased, and sIL-2r were significantly higher in synovial fluid than in serum. Serum levels of sIL-1r but not IL-1 alpha were increased in patients with acute infections, suggesting additional discriminatory specificity for IL-1 alpha. Both tender and swollen joint scores were higher for patients with RA with serum sIL-2r levels greater than or equal to 700 U/ml. Quantitation of immune mediators may be useful in the clinical assessment of RA in addition to their implication regarding the pathogenesis of the disease. | |
| 8151582 | Physical disability and psychological well being in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis. | 1994 Jan | OBJECTIVE: The association between self-report physical disability scores and psychological well being in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been described in several recent publications on patients with widely varying disease durations. We describe the results of a study into these relationships in patients with RA with a disease duration of less than 1 year. METHODS: In this cross sectional study on 113 patients with recent onset RA disability was assessed with 3 self-report indices and with measurement of grip strength. Correlation coefficients between disability measures and disease activity measures (joint tenderness/swelling score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR)]), psychological well being (cheerful mood, depressive mood, and anxiety), and demographical variables were calculated; hierarchical regression analysis was done with disability measures as the dependent variables. RESULTS: All disability scales were correlated moderately strongly with the joint score and ESR, and with psychological well being. No relation was found with age, sex, marital status, or rheumatoid factor status. Regression analysis showed the variance of 9-15% in disability could be explained by psychological well being after disease activity had been controlled for. CONCLUSION: Patients with recent onset RA appear not to be obviously different with respect to the moderately strong association between physical disability and psychological well being from patients with RA of longer duration in other published reports. | |
| 7744098 | Cardiac involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence of silent heart disease. | 1995 Feb | BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease involving many organ systems and is frequently accompanied by cardiac alterations. However, there is considerable disagreement concerning the cardiac abnormalities found in patients with RA. The purpose of our investigation was to determine, by a non-invasive method such as echocardiography, the nature and extent of cardiac involvement in RA patients with no symptoms of cardiac disease, in comparison with a control sample. METHODS: We selected 35 patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis (five men, 30 women), aged 51 +/- 11 years. No patient had either symptoms of cardiac disease or extra cardiac complaint. As a control group we studied 52 volunteers, aged 51 +/- 12 years, randomly selected among a larger group of subjects with no symptoms, signs and/or clinical findings of extra cardiac diseases. All were in sinus rhythm and without any cardiac symptom. Standard two-dimensional, M-mode and Doppler echocardiographic examination was carried out on each subject. RESULTS: In RA patients we found a higher prevalence of several abnormalities. We found no statistically significant differences between the groups of RA patients based on the stage and duration of disease. We found no correlation between cardiac abnormalities and inflammatory indices or drug therapy. DISCUSSION: At least three alterations seem to be typical of RA patients in the absence of any symptom of cardiac disease: (1) posterior pericardial effusion, (2) aortic root alterations and (3) valvular thickening. The prevalence of MVP is controversial and needs further investigation. These alterations are variously combined in each patient, and for this reason we think that it is possible to represent such a heart involvement as 'silent rheumatoid heart disease'. Moreover the knowledge of the presence of unrecognised cardiac abnormalities can be very important for the correct assessment and management of the RA patient. | |
| 7799387 | DC-ART: what proportion of response constitutes a positive response? | 1994 Sep | In most clinical trials, patients' mean improvement scores are compared either for active against active treatment or active against placebo treatment. Testing drugs or strategies to qualify as disease controlling antirheumatic therapy will require treated patients to satisfy set criteria. But what proportion must fulfill the requirement if the therapy is to be classified as DC-ART? While the answer must address the problems of semantics, disease characteristics, and absolute levels of improvement, it may be easiest to begin by defining a significant degree of change in terms of a single disease activity index. | |
| 8535656 | Clinical trial design for evaluating combination therapies. | 1995 Nov | Because the differences in efficacy between a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) combination and its constituent drugs are likely to be smaller than those between placebo and the single DMARDs, it has been difficult to prove that any combination of DMARDs has either additive or synergistic benefit. The discriminatory power of the study design can be enhanced by careful attention to the details of patient selection, study design and duration, and choices of primary outcome measures and analytical methods. Use of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 'core set' of outcome measures and the proposed ACR 'definition of improvement' for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials, with intent-to-treat analysis, in a balanced, prospective, double-blind randomized clinical trial of 1-2 yr duration will optimize the chances of discriminating between the clinical benefit of the combination and its components if a real difference is present. |