Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEtanercept in Sjögren's syndrome: a twelve-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial.
To assess the safety and potential efficacy of etanercept in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). ⋯ We found no evidence to suggest that treatment with etanercept at a dosage of 25 mg twice weekly for 12 weeks was clinically efficacious in SS. A larger trial will be necessary to definitively address the efficacy of etanercept in the treatment of SS.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2004
Amplification of the synovial inflammatory response through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor kappaB using ligation of CD40 on CD14+ synovial cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
To determine the signal transduction pathways in CD14+ synovial cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after CD40 ligation, and to examine their role in amplifying synovial inflammation in affected joints. ⋯ These data indicate that the CD40-CD154 interaction activates the ERK, p38, and NF-kappaB pathways in CD14+ synovial cells from RA patients to produce TNFalpha, IL-1alpha, and IL-1beta, which in turn amplifies inflammatory responses by stimulating FLS. Inhibition of the CD40-CD154 interaction or its signal transduction pathways would be a strong and efficient strategy for the management of synovial inflammation in RA.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2004
Medical care expenditures and earnings losses of persons with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions in the United States in 1997: total and incremental estimates.
To provide estimates of the total medical care expenditures and earnings losses associated with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions (AORC), as well as the increment in such costs specifically attributable to these conditions, in the US in 1997. ⋯ In 1997, persons with AORC incurred direct and indirect costs of 269.3 billion dollars, of which 86.2 billion dollars was attributable to these conditions.