Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2008
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyGolimumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite treatment with methotrexate: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study.
To assess the efficacy, safety, and pharmacology of subcutaneous administration of golimumab in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite treatment with methotrexate (MTX). ⋯ Golimumab plus MTX effectively reduces the signs and symptoms of RA and is generally well tolerated in patients with an inadequate response to MTX.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2008
Multicenter StudyIncreased cortisol relative to adrenocorticotropic hormone predicts improvement during anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.
Some patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improve rapidly from anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy. No sensitive markers are available that might predict outcome of anti-TNF therapy. We undertook this study to investigate the predictive value of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones for clinical improvement during anti-TNF therapy. ⋯ This is the first study in a human chronic inflammatory disease to demonstrate that inflammation-induced TNF interferes with HPA axis integrity, which is linked to the disease outcome. These findings position the HPA axis centrally in the vicious circle of perpetuation of chronic inflammation.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2008
Pulmonary capillary endothelial metabolic dysfunction: severity in pulmonary arterial hypertension related to connective tissue disease versus idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Pulmonary endothelial dysfunction is intertwined with the development and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Pulmonary endothelium is an active metabolic tissue in healthy human subjects. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of PAH on pulmonary endothelial angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and to identify differences between common PAH types, i.e., PAH related to connective tissue disease (PAH-CTD) versus idiopathic PAH (IPAH). ⋯ The metabolically functional pulmonary capillary bed appears to be reduced to an equal extent in PAH-CTD and IPAH. However, %M and hydrolysis appear to be reduced in PAH-CTD but not in IPAH, reflecting relatively diminished ACE activity on the pulmonary capillary endothelial cells of patients with PAH-CTD, and showing that pulmonary endothelial metabolic function differs between PAH types. This study also provides the first functional evidence that a reduced DLCO value in patients with PAH-CTD is related to the degree of FCSA loss.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 2008
Articular cartilage repair using dedifferentiated articular chondrocytes and bone morphogenetic protein 4 in a rabbit model of articular cartilage defects.
To observe redifferentiation of dedifferentiated chondrocytes after transplantation into the joint, and to evaluate the ability of dedifferentiated chondrocytes transduced with adenovirus containing bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) to redifferentiate in vitro and in vivo in a rabbit model of articular cartilage defects. ⋯ Some dedifferentiated chondrocytes can redifferentiate after transplantation into the load-bearing joint. BMP-4 can be used to induce redifferentiation of dedifferentiated chondrocytes in vitro and in vivo, which could help enhance articular cartilage repair.