International journal of rheumatic diseases
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Comparative Study
Birmingham vasculitis activity score of more than 9.5 at diagnosis is an independent predictor of refractory disease in granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
We investigated whether clinical manifestations, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs), Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and five factor score (FFS) at diagnosis can predict relapse or refractory disease in 30 histology-proven GPA patients with follow-up duration ≥ 12 weeks. ⋯ BVAS for GPA ≥ 9.5 was an independent predictor of refractory disease during follow-up duration ≥ 12 weeks.
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Observational Study
Observational study of the impact of an individualized multidisciplinary chronic care program for hip and knee osteoarthritis treatment on willingness for surgery.
To determine the impact of an osteoarthritis-specific multidisciplinary conservative care program (OACCP) on willingness for surgery (WFS) and to identify changes and factors in our cohort that influence and predict willingness for surgery. ⋯ A conservative OA-specific treatment program that improves pain and function can reduce willingness for surgery among participants with hip or knee OA. The strongest determinants of this reduction in willingness were baseline and change in pain, completion of the program and participant age.
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Review Multicenter Study
Cardiac tamponade and severe pericardial effusion in systemic sclerosis: report of nine patients and review of the literature.
To describe the clinical characteristics, treatment and outcome of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) developing severe pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade. ⋯ Although cardiac tamponade or severe pericardial effusion is an infrequent complication in SSc patients, it can be the first manifestation of disease associated with the diffuse cutaneous subset. No specific treatment for this complication is known.
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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonists have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce inflammatory cytokine production in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61) is associated with diseases related to chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of PPARγ agonists on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) invasion and migration, as well as Cyr61 production, in RA-FLS. ⋯ Our results demonstrate for the first time that PPARγ agonists may have beneficial effects on the migration and invasion of RA-FLS via the downregulation of Cyr61. Therefore, PPARγ agonists could be potential treatment targets for RA.
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Comparative Study
Synergistic analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of extra virgin olive oil and ibuprofen in different experimental models of albino mice.
Olive oil was used in the past as a remedy for many diseases due to its unlimited benefits in health. This study was carried out to assess the analgesic, anti-pyretic and anti-inflammatory activities of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) at a dose of 8 mL/kg body weight and to compare it with ibuprofen (IBU) as an individual drug therapy and in combination with two different doses of IBU (therapeutic dose 100 mg/kg and low dose 40 mg/kg), on different animal models in albino mice. ⋯ Using EVOO with the therapeutic dose of IBU showed synergistic effect in controlling the cardinal signs of acute inflammation rather than using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone.