Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2011
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialTherapeutic approaches in the treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis in patients with recent-onset disease and in those experiencing disease flare: an international multicenter PRINTO study.
To evaluate response to therapy over a 24-month period in a large prospective international cohort of patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (DM). ⋯ Patients with recent-onset juvenile DM are more likely to achieve significant clinical improvement over 24 months, when compared to patients experiencing flares of juvenile DM. Internationally, various therapeutic approaches are used to treat this disease.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2011
Distinct features of circulating microparticles and their relationship to clinical manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Characterization of the abundance, origin, and annexin V (AnxV)-binding capabilities of circulating microparticles (MPs) in SLE patients and healthy controls and to determine any associations with clinical parameters. ⋯ The concentrations and composition of MPs in SLE patients differ markedly from those in healthy subjects. Overall MP numbers were significantly decreased, but two distinct subpopulations of AnxV- MPs were significantly increased. These findings call for further characterization of MPs in SLE patients to elucidate their role in disease pathogenesis.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2011
Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging evidence of synovial proliferation is associated with radiographic severity of knee osteoarthritis.
To evaluate the relationships between both quantitative and semiquantitative assessments of the degree of knee synovitis on 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the severity of knee osteoarthritis (OA) on radiography. ⋯ Synovitis is a characteristic feature of advancing knee OA and is significantly associated with the K/L grade, JSW, JSN score, and total volume of BMLs on radiographs. Furthermore, BLOKS scoring of synovitis on unenhanced MRI is associated with measurements of synovitis on contrast-enhanced MRI.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2011
Characterization of a new animal model for evaluation and treatment of back pain due to lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritic (OA) degeneration of the lumbar facet joints has been implicated in low back pain. This study was undertaken to investigate the biologic links between cellular and structural alterations within facet joint components and the development of symptomatic chronic back pain. ⋯ Our findings demonstrate that MIA injection provides a useful model for the study of OA changes in the facet joint and indicate that facet joint degeneration is a major cause of chronic low back pain. The treatment results suggest that classes of drugs that are widely used to treat OA, such as nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, may have limited efficacy once joint destruction is complete.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2011
The specific free radical scavenger edaravone suppresses fibrosis in the bleomycin-induced and tight skin mouse models of systemic sclerosis.
Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) exhibit enhanced production of free radicals due to ischemia and reperfusion injury following Raynaud's phenomenon, an initial clinical manifestation. Oxidative stress induces cytokine production, inflammatory cell recruitment, and tissue injury in several inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of edaravone, a free radical scavenger, on the development of fibrosis and autoimmunity in two different mouse models of SSc. ⋯ This study is the first to show that edaravone has a significant inhibitory effect on fibrosis both in the bleomycin-induced SSc model and in TSK/+ mice. These results indicate that edaravone should be further evaluated for potential use as an antifibrotic agent in SSc.